PFAS

Drug Chem Toxicol. 2025 Oct 14:1-19. doi: 10.1080/01480545.2025.2572631. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in various industries but pose significant ecological and human health risks, particularly to the nervous system. However, the underlying neurotoxic mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study combines network toxicology and machine learning to explore these mechanisms. Using ADMETLAB 3.0, we assessed the environmental toxicity of six common PFAS and identified their potential targets using online tools. A compound-target interaction network was built, followed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) and KEGG pathway analyses to investigate toxicological pathways. Core targets were selected through machine learning, and differential gene expression was analyzed using transcriptomic data. Molecular docking simulations predicted binding affinities between PFAS and their core targets, while molecular dynamics simulations on key complexes were performed using Gromacs 2023.2 and the Charmm36 force field. PFDS showed the highest bioconcentration factors (BCF), while PFOA demonstrated the greatest toxicity. We identified 62 intersecting targets, with PTGS2, MMP9, and ESR1 being central in the PPI network. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 1,077 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), highlighting associated biological processes and pathways. The random forest model identified 20 core genes, with 9 significantly differentially expressed in the PFAS-treated group. Molecular docking suggested potential interactions between the compounds and core targets, and molecular dynamics simulations further supported the stability of the complexes under physiological conditions. This study provides valuable insights into the neurotoxic mechanisms of PFAS, enhancing our understanding of their impact on the nervous system.

PMID:41088807 | DOI:10.1080/01480545.2025.2572631

Chem Commun (Camb). 2025 Oct 15. doi: 10.1039/d5cc03862f. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Toxic PFASs usually require a long time and a high energy input for effective degradation. This study reports an ultrafast and effective method for degrading PFASs using microdroplets containing persulfate or Fenton's reagent. A 77-94% degradation efficiency was obtained for perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) in <1 ms under ambient conditions.

PMID:41090435 | DOI:10.1039/d5cc03862f

J Phys Chem Lett. 2025 Oct 14:11009-11015. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.5c02877. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Understanding interfacial interactions between water and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is crucial for developing effective removal strategies. However, the dynamic evolution of the interfacial states during PFAS hydration and aggregation remains unclear. Here, we investigate how varying concentrations of trifluoroacetic acid, heptafluorobutyric acid, and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy) propanoate modulate H─O bond relaxation. Perturbative resolved spectrometric refinements confirmed two distinct modes: bond contraction induced by dipolar polarization and bond elongation driven by fluoroalkyl-water lone pair repulsion, F:⇔:O. Combined with molecular dynamics simulations, the spectral evolution demonstrated that the populations of two components vary with PFAS species and dosages. Solute clustering enhances polarization while diminishing the F:⇔:O interaction, consequently reducing the elongated-to-contracted bond ratios (R_e/c). This ratio serves as a quantitative descriptor for differentiating hydration and clustering of PFAS solutes. These findings advance the understanding of PFAS-water interactions and establish a spectroscopic framework resolving the structural dynamics of fluorinated compounds.

PMID:41085462 | DOI:10.1021/acs.jpclett.5c02877

Environ Pollut. 2025 Oct 12:127259. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127259. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic and persistent chemicals that can contaminate food and water systems and have lasting negative implications for human health. We described paired residential well water and serum PFAS concentrations among adults residing where PFAS-contaminated biosolids were historically applied to farmland as fertilizer. In 2023, we measured 7 PFAS in serum from 145 participants who had up to 28 PFAS measured in their well water within the 3 prior years due to proximity to a biosolids application site. Participants were median(interquartile range) 63(15) years, 58% were female, 71% lived less than a mile from a site of biosolids application, and 58% had well water PFAS levels exceeding the Maine Interim Drinking Water Standard (∑6 legacy PFAS ≥20ng/L). In well water, PFOA, PFOS, PFOA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFPeA, PFBA, PFHxS, and PFNA were detectable in >50% of wells, and 21 unique PFAS were detected. Well water concentrations were highest for PFOA [GM(GSD) 13.6(20.1) ng/L]. In serum, detectable PFAS included PFOA [GM(GSD) 6.1(4.9) ng/mL)]; PFOS [8.3(4.1) ng/mL], PFHxS [1.4(2.5) ng/mL], PFNA [1.3(3.8) ng/mL], PFDA [0.40(4.1) ng/mL], and PFUnDA [0.17(2.8) ng/mL]. Of PFAS measured and highly detectable in both serum and water, PFOA had the strongest inter-matrix correlation (0.72); other PFAS had moderate correlations (0.32-0.33). In conclusion, individuals living in an area with historic application of PFAS-contaminated biosolids had elevated and highly correlated PFOA concentrations in water and serum. Other serum PFAS were elevated but moderately correlated with water concentrations, suggesting potential non-water exposure pathways.

PMID:41086905 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127259

Environ Pollut. 2025 Oct 12:127255. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127255. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) can induce oxidative stress, genomic instability, and epigenetic modifications. In occupational settings, Cr(VI)-exposed workers may also be exposed to other toxicants, such as elements besides Cr, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, research on the extent of these co-exposures and their combined effects remains limited. The objective of this study was to characterize the exposure levels of ten elements and eight PFAS in Cr(VI)-exposed workers and to assess the combined effects of these exposure mixtures on biomarkers of oxidative stress and genomic instability. This study included 138 Cr(VI)-exposed workers and 96 controls from Swedish SafeChrom and Danish SAM-Krom studies. Concentrations of elements were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and PFAS were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Effect biomarkers, including 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-cn), telomere length (TL) and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter (MGMT) methylation, were analyzed in blood. Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression and quantile-based g-computation models were used to evaluate the mixture effects. Exposed workers had higher concentrations of Cr, manganese, copper, zinc, lead, and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), lower mtDNA-cn and longer TL compared to controls. In the SAM-Krom study, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) levels were significantly elevated among exposed workers, with the P95 reaching 2044 ng/mL. The exposure mixtures were associated with increased 8-OHdG and MGMT hypermethylation. Together, these findings highlight the complexity of multiple occupational exposures in Cr(VI)-related work environments and suggest that combined exposure may contribute to early biological alterations related to oxidative stress and DNA methylation.

PMID:41086906 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127255

Environ Pollut. 2025 Oct 12:127254. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127254. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of synthetic organofluorine compounds; many are widespread environmental contaminants. Estuarine sediments can serve as long-term sinks and secondary sources for PFAS, by potentially removing them from the water column through sorption, and potential remobilisation when water column chemical conditions change. Understanding sorption is therefore important for informing the environmental management of PFAS. Batch experiments were used to evaluate the sorption of six PFAS in three separate marine sediments with low total organic carbon (TOC) and varying particle size distributions. Experiments were performed at six salinities, ranging from 0-70 g/kg. Partition coefficients (K_d), normalised organic carbon to water partition coefficients (K_oc), and change in PFAS concentrations over time were calculated for each compound in each sediment and salinity. Sorption was generally minimal in these low TOC sediments, but sediments with a higher relative clay and fine particle content exhibited greater sorption. PFOS had the highest K_d, followed by PFHxS, PFOA, PFHxA, PFBS, and PFBA, reinforcing the importance of chain length. PFAS sorption in low TOC sediments appears to be mediated by the compounds. Longer -CF₂ chain PFAS were more likely to sorb to sediment under hydrophobic interactions, while the extent of influence of TOC and particle size will vary by sediment. While salinity is known to influence PFAS sediment sorption at the freshwater-saltwater interface, particularly at lower salinity ranges (<20 g/kg), our results suggest a modest effect across the higher salinity range (20-70 g/kg), with compound-specific variability.

PMID:41086908 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127254

Environ Pollut. 2025 Oct 12:127256. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127256. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PER: and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that frequently co-occur in aquatic ecosystems and human exposure pathways. While their individual toxicities have been extensively studied, the combined effects of PFAS and MP co-exposure on human health remain poorly understood. This study evaluated cytotoxic, oxidative, and genotoxic responses in five human-derived cell lines-A498 (kidney), HepG2 (liver), PC3 (prostate), A431 (skin), and A549 (lung)-following exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (GenX), polystyrene, and low-density polyethylene, both individually and in mixtures. Our findings showed potential synergistic effects were observed primarily in kidney and liver cell lines, including increased reactive oxygen species production, elevated antioxidant gene expression, and activation of DNA repair pathways.. Mixture toxicity was dependent on both dose and PFAS-to-MP ratio, with synergistic responses predominating. A498 cells consistently showed greater sensitivity than HepG2 across all toxicity endpoints, including increased ROS, antioxidant gene expression, and activation of DNA repair pathways. HepG2 cells exhibited more limited oxidative stress responses but showed significant DNA damage and H2AX upregulation in select treatments. Gene expression data suggest differential activation of redox and DNA damage response pathways between the two cell types. These findings highlight the need to incorporate mixture toxicity into risk assessments and identify oxidative stress and genotoxicity as central mechanisms of concern in PFAS and MP co-exposure.

PMID:41086909 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127256

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2025 Oct 15. doi: 10.1007/s11356-025-37055-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study evaluates the effectiveness of ultrasound technology for degrading per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in three complex environmental matrices: groundwater (GW), still bottom (SB), and aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). A 10-L ultrasonic reactor, equipped with multi-frequency piezoelectric elements (850 kHz and 950 kHz), was used to treat PFAS-contaminated samples for 6 to 12 h. Degradation efficiency was measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), fluoride ion-selective electrode (F-ISE), suppressed conductivity ion chromatography (IC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, total organically bound fluorine (TOF) analysis, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). LC-MS/MS confirmed PFAS degradation, while F-ISE quantified fluoride release, indicating defluorination. IC analysis measured changes in anion concentrations, particularly sulfate and chloride, to assess transformation pathways. NMR and TOF provided structural insights into PFAS breakdown, and ICP-MS tracked variations in metal concentrations, highlighting potential interactions with degradation byproducts. In SB samples, fluoride concentration increased from 0 to 8.71 mg/L after 12 h, indicating successful defluorination of PFAS compounds. For GW samples, fluoride levels rose moderately from 0.54 to 1.78 mg/L, demonstrating that sonolysis can degrade PFAS in lower-concentration matrices. However, AFFF samples, dominated by perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), showed only a slight increase in fluoride concentration (0.75 to 1.37 mg/L), indicating resistance to sonolytic degradation due to strong carbon-fluorine bonds. Anion and metal analysis revealed matrix-specific interactions influencing sonolysis outcomes, with energy distribution analysis highlighting the competitive role of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in scavenging reactive radicals. This research demonstrates ultrasound as a promising technology for PFAS degradation in complex matrices. However, the test results for AFFF suggest that with high surfactant concentrations, modifications may be necessary for complete mineralization of PFAS compounds.

PMID:41087801 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-025-37055-2

Lab Chip. 2025 Oct 13. doi: 10.1039/d5lc00631g. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), persistent environmental contaminants linked to neurodevelopmental toxicity, cannot be adequately modeled by traditional in vitro systems due to their inability to recapitulate multi-organ interactions. To address this limitation, we developed and engineered a tri-organ gut-vascular-nerve axis chip that reconstructs the bidirectional gut-brain communication through an integrated endothelial barrier. Unlike dispersed 2D cultures on D-polylysine plates, our 3D platform supports cross-linked neurite outgrowth, self-assembled microvascular tubules, and a tightly sealed intestinal epithelia, coupled with integrated solid-phase extraction-mass spectrometry for real-time tracking of PFAS dynamics. We demonstrate that intestinal epithelial cells metabolize fluorotelomer alcohols into bioactive fluorotelomer carboxylic acids, which may transit vascular channels to neural compartments, inducing neuronal dysfunction and driving axis-wide alterations in metabolic activity, oxidative stress responses, and inflammatory signaling. This physiologically relevant model provides novel mechanistic insights into PFAS neurotoxicity and establishes a robust organ-on-chip paradigm for environmental toxicology.

PMID:41082182 | DOI:10.1039/d5lc00631g

Sci Rep. 2025 Oct 13;15(1):35715. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-19590-7.

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have identified an association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the occurrence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), but the specific mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to analyze the toxicological mechanisms of PFAS, particularly perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (), on ICC through network toxicology and bioinformatics. Relevant targets for PFOS and PFOA were retrieved from the CTD, ChEMBL, and Super-PRED databases. Targets related to ICC were gathered from the GeneCards, NCBI, and OMIM databases. Common targets between ICC and PFOS, PFOA were identified and subjected to median filtering in CytoHubba to select core targets, which were then analyzed for protein-protein interaction using the STRING database. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed on core targets to elucidate the biological processes affected by PFAS in ICC. The intersection of the targets for ICC and those from PFOS/PFOA was compared with the differentially expressed genes in ICC from the TCGA database. LASSO regression was applied to filter prediction targets, and bioinformatics analysis was conducted to assess the differential expression of these targets in ICC, constructing a risk assessment model. Molecular docking was utilized to evaluate the binding affinity of PFOA and PFOS to the predicted targets. A total of 1,838 and 2,616 targets were predicted for PFOA and PFOS, respectively; whereas, for ICC, 2,044 targets were identified, with 345 and 459 common targets for PFOA and PFOS, respectively. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that these processes were primarily associated with biological functions such as cell proliferation and apoptosis, potentially mediated by the PI3K-Akt and HIF-1 signaling pathways. The integrated analysis of differentially expressed genes from the TCGA database and the intersection of targets from PFOA/PFOS with those from ICC yielded five core genes (TP53, ESR1, CDH1, BCL2, and MMP9) that formed an ICC prognostic score with robust predictive capability for survival, classifying ICC patients into high-risk and low-risk groups (p < 0.05). Molecular docking simulations demonstrated strong binding affinities between PFAS and these core targets, supporting their potential roles in PFAS-induced ICC development. This study explores the potential key mechanisms underlying PFAS-induced ICC and highlights core biomarkers that could serve as therapeutic targets. These results are expected to offer novel perspectives on strategies for the prevention and treatment of ICC.

PMID:41083578 | PMC:PMC12518873 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-19590-7

ACS Omega. 2025 Sep 23;10(39):45867-45875. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.5c06511. eCollection 2025 Oct 7.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been widely used in industry and consumer products. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a ubiquitous type of PFAS, which is extremely stable chemicals that have been persistent in the environment for many years. The accumulation of PFOS in the human body can lead to various unfavorable health issues related to the immune, metabolic, and endocrine systems. The conventional PFOS detection method utilizes liquid chromatography coupled with a mass spectroscopy system that typically involves a lengthy and complex procedure. Herein, we propose to develop a low-cost and rapid test approach based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and deep learning for PFOS detection. The gold nanoparticle SERS substrates utilized in this study can significantly enhance the Raman signal of PFOS in solution at a low concentration. PFOS detection and quantification in water using the SERS-based substrate are carried out by measuring Raman peak intensities of PFOS in solution at a range of low concentrations and comparing them to the signal of a blank SERS substrate background. The results show that the SERS substrate can achieve a detection limit as low as 0.0005 ppb. In addition, we propose a demultiplexing deep learning model, which can generate high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) PFOS spectra from the noisy mixture of PFOS and background Raman spectra. Average cross-correlation and mean absolute error (MAE) are utilized to evaluate the similarity between the demultiplexed and denoised PFOS Raman spectra (output of deep learning) and their ground truths. The proposed model can achieve an encouraging result with high average cross-correlation and low average MAE of 0.9622 ± 0.0667 and 0.0034 ± 0.0024, respectively.

PMID:41078730 | PMC:PMC12508923 | DOI:10.1021/acsomega.5c06511

Front Toxicol. 2025 Sep 26;7:1654272. doi: 10.3389/ftox.2025.1654272. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread anthropogenic contaminants known to the scientific community for their persistence and toxicity. Our research aims to evaluate the effect of chronic environmental exposure to PFAS on the antioxidant system of Squalius cephalus. In particular, to better understand how various components of the antioxidant system act together to counteract the adverse effects of PFAS, in the present study we evaluate the gene expression and enzymatic activity of two selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidases (namely GPx-1 and GPx-4) and the catalase, in the two major organs involved in the accumulation and detoxification from pollutants, including PFAS, i.e. liver and caudal kidney. Fish were sampled from four sites in the Veneto region with different concentrations of total dissolved PFAS. To better assess the acclimatisation to the environment, the morphological characteristics of the fish were also examined, as well as the development of organs, through the calculation of some somatic indices. Lipid accumulation was demonstrated histologically in both the liver and caudal kidney, which likely occurs to attenuate the high reactivity of PFAS toward protein content in these organs. The results demonstrate how Squalius cephalus can survive chronic PFAS exposure through cellular and systemic physiological responses.

PMID:41079394 | PMC:PMC12511053 | DOI:10.3389/ftox.2025.1654272

Lancet Planet Health. 2025 Oct 9:101309. doi: 10.1016/j.lanplh.2025.101309. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous persistent organic pollutants associated with adverse health outcomes in humans. Although they are associated with autism spectrum disorder and behavioural outcomes, whether PFAS affect brain development is unclear. We aimed to characterise the relationship between maternal PFAS and brain structure and function in typically developing children.

METHODS: This study was set within the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, a prospective observational study that enrolled mothers from three clinics in Turku, Finland, during their first trimester of pregnancy. Maternal serum samples at gestational week 24 were analysed for PFAS by mass spectrometry and, at age 5 years, children were assessed through structural, diffusion-weighted, and functional MRI. Whole-brain voxel-level and vertex-level maps of grey matter volume, white matter fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity, and cortical thickness and surface area were combined to compute ten independent components. Data were analysed by correlation network, elastic net regression, and multivariate linear regression with multiple testing correction.

FINDINGS: Pregnant mothers were enrolled into the birth cohort study between Dec 1, 2011, and April 30, 2015, and study visits at age 5 years took place between Oct 1, 2017, and March 31, 2020. This analysis involved 51 mother-child dyads for whom maternal PFAS concentrations and structural MRI data for the child were available. PFAS concentrations in maternal serum samples were mostly 0-1 ng/mL. Maternal perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA; R²=0·13, β=0·39 [95% CI 0·09-0·69], p_adj=0·024) and linear perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA; 0·13, 0·36 [0·09-0·63], p_adj=0·022) linearly predicted a multimodal component dominated by corpus callosal integrity, whereas branched perfluorohexanesulphonic acid (PFHxS; R²=0·12, β=0·31, p_adj=0·036) and branched PFOA (R²=0·14, β=0·36, p_adj=0·016) predicted a component comprising mainly occipital cortex volume and surface area. Branched perfluorooctanesulphonic acid predicted hypothalamic microstructure (R²=0·10, β=0·29, p=0·026). PFNA, linear PFOA, and branched PFOA are associated with increased functional connectivity in the right precentral gyrus, whereas branched PFHxS predicts decreased connectivity in the intracalcerine cortices. Associations were not influenced by sex assigned at birth, but were related to PFAS chemical structure.

INTERPRETATION: We show an association between prenatal PFAS exposure and brain developmental outcomes in children. These findings are pertinent given the ubiquitous circulation of PFAS in humans and the extreme environmental persistence of these substances.

FUNDING: The Horizon Europe programme of the EU.

PMID:41077058 | DOI:10.1016/j.lanplh.2025.101309

Water Res. 2025 Sep 24;288(Pt B):124669. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.124669. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have historically infiltrated concrete and asphalt pavements where aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) were used. These pavements can act as long-term sources of PFAS-contaminated runoff, but their contribution is not well quantified. Over 230 rainfall-runoff samples were collected over 335 days from a PFAS-impacted fire training area (FTA) and analysed for 32 PFAS. Rainfall and discharge were monitored, with peak runoff at 1.75 L/s across ∼30 events. Average total PFAS concentrations in runoff events were similar over 11 months (typically 1.0-3.8 µg/L; PFOS 0.50-1.7 µg/L). Within flow events, concentrations decreased at high flows, likely due to dilution, and increased as flows subsided. Composition was consistent throughout, with PFOS dominant (40-60 %) and PFHxS, 6:2 FTS, and PFHxA each ∼3-20 %. Even after long dry periods, PFAS profiles were unchanged. Annual PFAS discharge was estimated at 75-380 mg/y, with uncertainty at low flows. PFAS at greater than 1 µg/L might discharge over centuries based on estimates of the total mass. Similarly, modelling showed that PFAS might discharge for many decades to centuries. Findings suggest that natural release rates may not meaningfully reduce PFAS discharges over time, thus informing decisions on whether active remediation (e.g., removal, sealing, or water treatment) is warranted at legacy sites.

PMID:41075484 | DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2025.124669

Water Res. 2025 Sep 29;288(Pt B):124698. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.124698. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Non-targeted analysis of complex per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) via Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) promises unprecedented insights into the "fluorinome", i.e., the complete set of organofluorine compounds in a given sample. In this study, we present a Python-based workflow developed in parallel with a carefully constructed PFAS formula database comprising ∼ 20 million entries to facilitate the assignment of chemical formulas to ultrahigh-resolution mass spectra. PFAS assignments based on the analysis of complex aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) on the world's highest-resolving 21 tesla FT-ICR MS were compared to quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) MS data, validating 22 common and discovering 19 previously undetected PFAS classes. We then explored the viability of ultrahigh-resolution FT-ICR MS analysis for forensic profiling purposes on PFAS-impacted groundwater samples, identifying bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides (bis-FASIs) as long-suspected ingredients of electrochemical fluorination AFFFs. While our newly developed workflow may also be used for other types of high-resolution mass spectrometers such as QTOF and Orbitrap, this work leverages the unique ultrahigh-resolving power, sub-ppm mass measurement accuracy, and high dynamic range of 21 tesla FT-ICR mass spectrometry to maximize information from complex contaminant mixtures in environmental samples.

PMID:41075486 | DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2025.124698

J Hazard Mater. 2025 Oct 6;499:140063. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140063. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Pore structure modulation and surface functionalization of porous carbon is essential for enhancing the adsorption efficiency of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and understanding their adsorption mechanisms. In this study, a novel porous carbon material was synthesized through integrated hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis. Fine modification was achieved by optimizing ZnCl₂ impregnation ratios (4:1), pyrolysis temperatures (500 °C), and acid washing, yielding fine-tuned microporosity, disordered graphitic domains, and diverse oxygen groups. The resulting porous carbon exhibited a highly developed microporous structure, disordered graphitic regions and diverse oxygen-containing functional groups. Adsorption experiments demonstrated excellent removal capacity for both long-chain and short-chain PFAS under varying pH and concentrations. Notably, Glu-Zn4-500 achieved a maximum adsorption capacity of 476 mg/g for PFOA and showed superior dynamic regenerability over commercial activated carbon. At environmentally relevant PFAS concentrations ( 500 ng/L), rapid adsorption was observed within one minute, even in the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) and Ca^{2 +} . Theoretical calculations demonstrate that PFAS adsorption arises from synergistic contributions of hydrophobic anchoring of perfluoroalkyl chains on graphitized domains and polar interactions (electrostatic/hydrogen bonding) at functional groups. This work highlights a design strategy for high-performance PFAS adsorbents applicable to complex water matrices.

PMID:41075636 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140063

J Hazard Mater. 2025 Sep 25;499:139964. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139964. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The rapid growth of the lithium-ion battery (LIB) industry has attracted great attention to the release of related emerging contaminants, especially per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Yichun, known as the "Lithium Capital of Asia", is one of the largest lithium battery industry clusters in China, but our understanding of PFAS occurrence in LIB industry parks is limited. This study, combining self-organizing maps (SOM), positive matrix factorization (PMF), redundancy analysis (RDA), and risk quotient (RQ), aims to elucidate the distribution characteristics, sources, and ecological risks of 23 PFAS from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and their receiving rivers (Jinjiang and Yuanhe) in the Yangtze River Basin. Our findings revealed that total concentrations ranged from 2.25 to 164.49 ng/L (mean: 29.05 ng/L in rivers, 44.54 ng/L in WWTPs), with short-chain PFAS (perfluorobutanoic acid and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid) accounting for 57.2 % of total PFAS. Source apportionment revealed three primary contributors: urban domestic wastewater (37.3 %), traditional industry (31.4 %), and LIB industry (31.3 %). The flux of total PFAS to Poyang Lake was 416.93 kg/year. Risk quotient (RQ) assessment results indicated that the risk level of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was higher than that of other PFASs, indicating potential ecological risks downstream. The prevalence of short-chain PFAS correlates with the LIB industry's adoption of alternatives, underscoring the need for fluorine-free electrolytes and WWTP upgrades. While LIB production increases short-chain PFAS in aquatic environments, traditional industries remain non-negligible sources due to inadequate management, highlighting the urgency of integrated regulation addressing both emerging and legacy risks to safeguard long-term aquatic ecosystem health.

PMID:41075640 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139964

Environ Int. 2025 Oct 4;204:109842. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109842. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Declines of several common-studied PFAS noted in the U.S. likely reflect policies that successfully reduced long-chained PFAS production and emission such as the EPA PFOA Stewardship Program. Policy impacts on under-studied PFAS and on predictors of PFAS exposure remain unknown.

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in population-levels and exposure predictors of 10 PFAS in the Boston Birth Cohort (BBC) by Stewardship timelines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 1,288 BBC mothers who delivered 1999-2016, the current study focused on 10 PFAS in plasma samples collected 24-72 h postpartum. We estimated PFAS percent differences (%Δ), stratified by the Stewardship timelines. We evaluated predictors related to sources, vulnerability, blood-loss, and diet during pregnancy.

RESULTS: The majority of participants were Black (65 %); 8 PFAS were commonly detected (>85 %). PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFHpS, and Me-PFOSA-AcOH decreased by up to 88 % during PFOA reduction-period (2006-2009) or elimination-period (2010-2016) compared to pre-policy (1999-2005), regardless of race/ethnicity; PFNA, PFUnA, PFDeA, PFDoA, and GenX increased by up to 104 % among non-White mothers. PFAS were up to 148 % higher in mothers who frequently consumed shellfish or fish or vegetables, worked, owned pet(s), or had wall-to-wall carpet, with stronger associations post-policy for shellfish, fish, and working. PFAS were up to 36 % lower in mothers who had cesarean-section, took vitamin supplements, or lived overseas during pregnancy, with weaker associations post-policy for delivery type and country of residence.

CONCLUSION: Chemical policies can be effective at reducing PFAS exposures at the population-level, although the beneficial effects may not be equal across population-subgroups and could increase unregulated chemical exposures. Fish and vegetable consumption and occupational status were consistently associated with higher levels, while patterns of other predictors changed over time.

PMID:41075712 | DOI:10.1016/j.envint.2025.109842

Anal Methods. 2025 Oct 10. doi: 10.1039/d5ay01255d. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly mobile and widespread chemicals that are associated with an expanding list of adverse health effects. Given their ubiquity and high mobility, dust has become a suitable matrix for assessing potential indoor levels of PFAS. Currently, vehicles represent a largely underexplored source of PFAS contamination in dust. We propose that vehicle cabin air conditioning (AC) filters can be used as opportunistic sampling devices for exploring PFAS levels in dust inherently present within vehicles. This study monitored 47 PFAS in cabin AC filters (n = 10) and engine air filters (as a comparison, n = 10) via high performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Cabin AC filters, which filter air circulated within the passenger compartment, contained higher PFAS concentrations (median ∑PFAS = 92 ng g^-1) than the engine air filters, which filtered outdoor air feeding into the vehicle engine (median ∑PFAS = 2 ng g^-1). In cabin AC filters, the dominant PFAS were polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters (PAPs), which accounted for 45% of ∑PFAS by concentration. In engine filters, the dominant PFAS were fluorotelomer sulfonic acids (dominated by one engine filter) and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, which represented 59% and 20% of the ∑PFAS, respectively. This study demonstrated that we are likely exposed to PFAS inside vehicle cabins and that cabin AC filters are a well-suited sampling matrix worth further exploration.

PMID:41070861 | DOI:10.1039/d5ay01255d

Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Oct 10. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c04458. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The exposome encompasses environmental exposures throughout life and significantly impacts health and disease. Exposure chemicals, present at trace levels, are frequently quantified using targeted LC-MS/MS. Many existing methods are limited to a narrow range of analyte classes or lack sufficient sensitivity for exposomic analyses, and applicability to large sample cohorts for exposome-wide association studies (ExWAS) remains to be demonstrated. Here, we present a scalable, fit-for-purpose next-generation human biomonitoring (HBM) workflow for analyzing >230 biomarkers in urine, plasma, and serum using solid-phase extraction in 96-well plates and LC-MS/MS. Moreover, a complementary conceptual framework for validation criteria of assays designed to analyze large panels of highly diverse compounds at trace levels is proposed. Method robustness was evaluated, demonstrating extraction recovery (60-130%), matrix effects (SSE, 60-130%), inter-/intraday precision (RSD <30%), and high sensitivity (limit of detection <0.1 ng/mL) for 59-80% of the analytes across the investigated biological matrices. To showcase the method's applicability in epidemiological studies, 200 urine samples from pregnant women in a longitudinal pregnancy cohort were analyzed. More than 100 analytes including PFAS, drugs, air pollutants, pesticides, flame retardants, mycotoxins, industrial products, food processing contaminants, plastics-related chemicals, and phytotoxins, were detected, several for the first time in a U.S. urinary biomonitoring study. With its broad analyte coverage, ultimate sensitivity, robustness, and high sample throughput, this method meets the performance requirements for future large-scale ExWAS applications in public and personalized prevention research.

PMID:41071047 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c04458

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2025 Oct 10. doi: 10.1007/s11356-025-37024-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The global accumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soils raises concerns about soil quality. While PFAS sorption may depend on the quality of soil organic matter (SOM), their unique properties may also affect SOM dynamics in complex and poorly understood ways, impacting long-term soil quality. Literature provides vague conclusions about how SOM, particularly its quality, influences PFAS-soil interactions and whether PFAS can modify SOM characteristics. The present study aims to enhance both the qualitative and quantitative understanding of the reciprocal impact that PFAS and SOM have on each other's environmental fate. Sorption of three PFAS molecules and simultaneous mobilization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in three distinct soils were studied. PFOS had the highest sorption by ranging 61-98% followed by PFOA and PFBA. ¹³C NMR analysis indicated that PFAS sorption is driven by hydrophobic components of SOM. The highest PFAS sorption was observed in soils containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), while the lowest was recorded in soils with less hydrophobic SOM. Conversely, the presence of PFAS increased the release of DOM in soils with less hydrophobic SOM. The changes in DOM release induced by PFAS were directly influenced by the chemical properties of the soil components. Additionally, ¹H NMR revealed notable structural changes in the chemical composition of DOM caused by PFAS, characterized by an increase in hydrophobic constituents and a decrease in hydrophilic components. The results indicated that PFAS can affect both the quantity and quality of SOM, potentially compromising long-term SOM stability and carbon sequestration in contaminated soils.

PMID:41071511 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-025-37024-9

Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Oct 10. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c03825. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is associated with adverse birth outcomes, yet mechanistic pathways remain unclear. We measured 32 maternal serum PFAS (including their alternatives and isomers) and quantified placental mRNA levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R), and the insulin receptor (INSR), alongside serum IGF1 and insulin levels, in 285 mother-infant pairs from the Maoming birth cohort. We applied simple, serial, and moderated mediation models to investigate placental IGF1 signaling as a mediator of PFAS-related preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), and small-for-gestational-age (SGA). Simple mediation showed placental IGF1R mediated 15.08%-41.18% of associations between perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) isomers and PTB (odds ratios [ORs-_{total effect}]: 1.06-1.10), LBW (ORs: 1.05-1.10), or SGA (ORs: 1.05-1.10). Serial mediation identified a sequential pathway: PFOS exposure correlated with altered IGF1 expression, followed by IGF1R changes, and subsequent associations with PTB (ORs: 1.01-1.02), LBW (ORs: 1.01-1.02), and SGA (ORs: 1.01-1.02). Moderated mediation highlighted serum IGF1 and insulin as modifiers of these relationships. Molecular docking demonstrated preferential binding of branched PFOS to IGF1R's ligand-binding domains. This study integrates advanced mediation frameworks and molecular evidence to demonstrate that placental IGF1 signaling mediates PFAS-related adverse birth outcomes, elucidating mechanisms of developmental toxicity.

PMID:41071572 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c03825

Environ Res. 2025 Oct 8;287:123049. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.123049. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PER: and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are recognized as representative persistent organic pollutants in aquatic environments. Their inherent biological toxicity poses significant risks to the stability of aquatic ecosystems. As key primary producers, microalgae play an indispensable role in maintaining the integrity of the aquatic food web. Due to their high environmental sensitivity, microalgae generally serve as bioindicators for monitoring anthropogenic pollution. This study systematically reviews the physiological and ecological interactions between PFAS and typical microalgal species in aquatic environments. It analyzes the driving factors influencing PFAS adsorption and uptake by microalgae, the impact of PFAS on microalgal physiological and ecological characteristics, and the combined effects of PFAS with other environmental stressors on microalgae. Additionally, unresolved issues and future research priorities, such as the potential applications of microalgae in PFAS detection and remediation, are highlighted. This review comprehensively summarizes the interaction processes and mechanisms between PFAS and microalgae, providing theoretical support for assessing PFAS risks within aquatic ecosystems and elucidating their potential connections to other pollution events (e.g., Microcystis blooms).

PMID:41072645 | DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2025.123049

Allergy. 2025 Oct 10. doi: 10.1111/all.70092. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are widely used chemicals, notably in nonstick coatings, fire-fighting foams and equipment, and surfactants. These chemicals degrade slowly and accumulate in tissues and the environment, being detected in water, air, wildlife, and soil across the world. Initial studies have shown that these chemicals are associated with harmful health effects, but research in this area remains limited, especially in sinonasal diseases.

METHODS: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014 was used to analyze the association between PFAS and taste and smell survey among adults (age ≥ 40) with complete data (n = 1911). The survey included self-reported sinonasal symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for covariates was used to describe the relationship between serum PFAS concentrations and sinonasal health. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was performed to consider the diverse chemical properties of PFAS and how real-life exposures involve multiple types of PFAS.

RESULTS: The logistic regression model found that serum PFAS levels were not significantly associated with sinonasal health outcomes, except serum Me-PFOSA-AcOH (OR: 1.164; 95% CI: 1.020-1.308), which significantly increased the likelihood of reporting frequent nasal congestion in the past 12 months. The BKMR model identified exposure-response relationships on olfaction of Me-FPOSA-AcOH and PFHxS becoming more pronounced as the concentration of PFNA within the mixture increased.

CONCLUSION: Our results explore potential relationships between PFAS and adverse sinonasal health effects. Exposure to Me-PFOSA-AcOH may be related to frequent nasal congestion, while other PFAS may have complex, mixture-dependent effects on olfaction.

PMID:41070772 | DOI:10.1111/all.70092

Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Oct 8. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c01886. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The research on novel methods for water treatment to achieve the degradation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is very active and usually considers perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctansulfonic acid (PFOS) to test the process efficacy. Their degradation generally proceeds through the sequential formation of shorter-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), which are detected and quantified by means of well-established methods. However, hydro- and hydroxy-defluorinated products of various chain length, in which one or more -F atoms have been substituted by -H atoms and/or -OH groups, can be formed as well. An analytical method was therefore developed, capable of concentrating and simultaneously analyzing PFCAs and these substitution products. Solid-phase extraction and LC-ESI/q-TOF parameters have been optimized to maximize recovery and detection of PFOS, PFOA, shorter-chain PFCAs, and various polyfluoroalkyl and polyfluorohydroxyalkyl carboxylic/sulfonic acids obtained in the treatment of solutions 1.0 × 10^-6 M PFOA or PFOS in tap water by nonthermal plasma (NTP). The application of the developed analytical method, which was tested on real groundwater samples contaminated with PFAS and treated with NTP, is suggested for studies dealing with advanced reduction/oxidation processes for PFAS removal to verify the absence of polyfluoroalkyl and polyfluorohydroxyalkyl carboxylic/sulfonic acids.

PMID:41063523 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c01886

Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Oct 9. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c11221. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are increasingly detected in agricultural environments, yet national-scale data on PFAS contamination in paired food crops and soils remain scarce. This study presents the first nationwide investigation of legacy and emerging PFAS in paired soil and grain samples (n = 160) from 11 provinces representing China's major rice, wheat, and maize producing regions. PFAS were ubiquitously found in soils (median: 4.96 ng/g; range: 2.28-33.5 ng/g) and grains (7.74 ng/g; 2.40-25.3 ng/g), with short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids being the dominant class. The emerging-to-legacy PFAS ratio was 2.16 in soils and 4.26 in grains, and crop PFAS levels were 1.5 times higher than those in corresponding soils, indicating the greater propensity of emerging PFAS to be transported into crops. Paddy soils exhibited significantly higher PFAS concentrations than dryland soils (p < 0.05), likely due to irrigation-driven accumulation. In addition, intensive anthropogenic activities were found positively related to PFAS concentrations in soils (r = 0.54, p < 0.05). Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis attributed PFAS sources primarily to food packaging, textile processing, and fluorochemical industries. Risk prioritization based on the ToxPi framework highlighted PFPeA, PFOA, PFOS, and HFPO-DA as priority compounds of concern. This study provides essential baseline data on PFAS contamination in Chinese farmland and paired staple crops, supporting regulatory oversight of both legacy and emerging PFAS in agricultural systems.

PMID:41068559 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c11221

Environ Sci Process Impacts. 2025 Oct 9. doi: 10.1039/d5em00502g. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Accurate quantification of inorganic fluoride (F^-) release is an essential metric for evaluating the efficacy of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) degradation processes. However, current analytical methods for F^- measurement, including ion chromatography (IC), the use of ion selective electrodes (ISEs), and combustion ion chromatography (CIC), possess inherent limitations and susceptibility to interferences within complex environmental matrices. This perspective critically examines these under-recognized analytical pitfalls, such as the co-elution of inorganic fluoride with short-chain organic acids in IC, the inherent sensitivity limitations and stability issues of ISEs at trace concentrations, and the variable recovery of ultra-short-chain or volatile fluorinated species in combustion-based sum parameter analyses. We explain how these analytical discrepancies can lead to mischaracterization of defluorination efficiency and potentially result in overestimation of technological performance, misinformed risk assessments, and regulatory ambiguity. We propose a series of methodological recommendations, emphasizing the routine application of hyphenated techniques such as IC-mass spectrometry (IC-MS) for enhanced F^- validation, and the strategic utilization of fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance (¹⁹F NMR) spectroscopy for comprehensive tracking of diverse organofluorine species. Emphasizing analytical cross-validation and holistic fluorine mass balance approaches is paramount for enabling reliable advancements in PFAS remediation.

PMID:41064973 | DOI:10.1039/d5em00502g

Integr Environ Assess Manag. 2025 Oct 9:vjaf142. doi: 10.1093/inteam/vjaf142. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

To understand the significance of bivalve consumption as an exposure route for PFAS, the presence of PFAS in bivalve tissues at PFAS-impacted sites and bivalve specific bioaccumulation metrics are needed. Case studies from AFFF-impacted sites indicated concentrations of PFOS in bivalves exceeded potentially applicable bivalve tissue screening levels for human consumers of bivalves; however, screening levels for wildlife consumers of bivalves (birds and mammals) were not exceeded. However, PFAS exposure to human and wildlife via bivalve consumption is lower than via fish consumption based on fish case study data. For example, PFOS dietary exposure to humans via bivalve consumption was predicted to be 3 to 10 times lower than exposure via fish consumption. In addition to differences in bivalve and fish consumption rates, a main reason for this observation is that PFAS are less bioaccumulative in bivalves than in fish, as indicated in a review of bivalve PFAS laboratory studies. PFAS bioaccumulation in bivalves is directly related to perfluoroalkyl chain length. For example, for freshwater bivalves, a significant relationship was found between log-transformed bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) and chain length (Log10BAF, L/kg wet weight = 0.65 × (number of perfluorinated carbons) - 4.6; r2 = 0.91). For sites at which bivalves are exposed to PFAS, the consumption of bivalves by humans and wildlife may be an important exposure pathway. However, at most AFFF sites with both bivalve and fish consumption exposure pathways, PFAS exposures associated with fish consumption will likely drive risk management.

PMID:41065472 | DOI:10.1093/inteam/vjaf142

Environ Res. 2025 Oct 9;287:123037. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.123037. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) linked to adverse reproductive outcomes. While the placenta is a known target of PFAS toxicity, most in vitro studies use two-dimensional (2D) cell culture models, often focusing on late-pregnancy tissue or blood PFAS concentrations and examining single compound exposures. In this study, we measure placenta PFAS concentrations in early pregnancy and design a placenta-relevant PFAS mixture to assess its impact on trophoblast function using a three-dimensional (3D) trophoblast spheroid model. PFAS levels in first-trimester placental tissue were quantified using liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Six PFAS: perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA); were selected based on their placenta concentrations and relevance to pregnancy complications to design the placenta real-life PFAS mixture. Next, trophoblast spheroids were propagated from two different cell lines, JEG-3 and HTR-8/SVneo, to assess the effects of PFAS mixture on trophoblast viability, apoptosis, invasion, hormone production, and gene expression. While trophoblast spheroid viability remained largely unaffected, we observed changes in trophoblast function. PFAS exposure significantly increased invasiveness in JEG-3 spheroids at 48 h, but markedly reduced it in HTR-8/SVneo spheroids at 96 h across varying concentrations. Additionally, pregnancy-specific hormone e.g. β-hCG production declined after 48 h of PFAS mixture exposure in JEG-3 spheroids. Gene expression analysis revealed altered apoptosis and proliferation pathways in both trophoblast spheroids. Overall, our study highlights that physiologically relevant 3D trophoblast models can contribute to the broader comprehension of PFAS-associated reproductive health risk assessments.

PMID:41067679 | DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2025.123037

Environ Res. 2025 Oct 9;287:123037. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.123037. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) linked to adverse reproductive outcomes. While the placenta is a known target of PFAS toxicity, most in vitro studies use two-dimensional (2D) cell culture models, often focusing on late-pregnancy tissue or blood PFAS concentrations and examining single compound exposures. In this study, we measure placenta PFAS concentrations in early pregnancy and design a placenta-relevant PFAS mixture to assess its impact on trophoblast function using a three-dimensional (3D) trophoblast spheroid model. PFAS levels in first-trimester placental tissue were quantified using liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Six PFAS: perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA); were selected based on their placenta concentrations and relevance to pregnancy complications to design the placenta real-life PFAS mixture. Next, trophoblast spheroids were propagated from two different cell lines, JEG-3 and HTR-8/SVneo, to assess the effects of PFAS mixture on trophoblast viability, apoptosis, invasion, hormone production, and gene expression. While trophoblast spheroid viability remained largely unaffected, we observed changes in trophoblast function. PFAS exposure significantly increased invasiveness in JEG-3 spheroids at 48 h, but markedly reduced it in HTR-8/SVneo spheroids at 96 h across varying concentrations. Additionally, pregnancy-specific hormone e.g. β-hCG production declined after 48 h of PFAS mixture exposure in JEG-3 spheroids. Gene expression analysis revealed altered apoptosis and proliferation pathways in both trophoblast spheroids. Overall, our study highlights that physiologically relevant 3D trophoblast models can contribute to the broader comprehension of PFAS-associated reproductive health risk assessments.

PMID:41067679 | DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2025.123037

Environ Toxicol Chem. 2025 Oct 8:vgaf207. doi: 10.1093/etojnl/vgaf207. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Questions remain about the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment, the sources and movement within and between ecosystems, and whether there are effects from such exposure. Information from the Upper Midwest and the mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, which have different PFAS sources, were investigated. Concentrations of Total40 (sum of 40 PFAS), perfluorooctane sulfonate, perfluorohexane sulfonate, and Total13 (sum of 13 PFAS) were consistently higher, by as much as a factor of 40, in tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) tissue samples (eggs, nestlings, and diet) at sites along the East Coast, where aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) were extensively used when compared with East Coast reference sites. Sites in the Upper Midwest, with other PFAS sources, had qualitatively lower concentrations of PFAS than AFFF source sites. Perfluorooctane sulfonate was the only PFAS detected in all samples. Concentrations of most other PFAS, such as the carboxylates and fluorotelomers, did not differ between AFFF and reference sites. Perfluorohexane sulfonate, the second-most common constituent of some legacy AFFF formulations, was <1% of Total40 at the reference sites in eggs and nestlings, but perfluorohexane sulfonate represented up to 9.7% (eggs) and 9.0% (nestlings) at AFFF-influenced sites. Despite differences in PFAS exposure, the daily probability of egg and nestling survival, as well as haptoglobin-like activity (PIT54) and total immunoglobulin Y, was similar across all sites. There were also no significant associations between these end points and concentrations of Total40 or individual PFAS in eggs or nestlings.

PMID:41058571 | DOI:10.1093/etojnl/vgaf207

ACS Electrochem. 2025 Aug 12;1(10):2014-2023. doi: 10.1021/acselectrochem.5c00121. eCollection 2025 Oct 2.

ABSTRACT

Short chain PFAS is known to be more challenging to destructively remove than its longer chain counterparts. Electrochemical oxidation at boron doped diamond (BDD) electrodes is one promising way forward. The majority of investigations are carried out using thin film, high grain density BDD electrodes (attached to the growth substrate) at low current densities of <50 mA cm^-2. In this work, the impact of high current density on short chain (C₄), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) removal rates and defluorination efficiency is investigated in a recirculating flow system. These studies are carried out using free-standing BDD electrodes, which are grown thick enough so that the BDD can be removed from the non-diamond growth substrate and thus contain a much lower grain density compared to thin-film BDD. The cell utilizes four BDD electrodes, where only the two outer electrodes are directly connected to a potential supply, the two inner electrodes are electrically unconnected, and driven in a bipolar arrangement. Solutions contain saturated potassium sulfate as the electrolyte. A current density of ≥390 mA cm^-2 (after correcting for surface roughness) is employed for times up to 9 h. PFBS/PFBA concentrations in the range range ∼1-60 mg L^-1 are investigated. Importantly when comparing rate constant data to literature for similar concentrations (after normalization of the rate constants to treatment volume/anode area), the values suggest removal rates approximately an order of magnitude higher than those at lower current density (in stirred solutions). Defluorination efficiency is also found to be higher with (close to) complete defluorination indicated at higher concentrations/longer times for short chain PFAS. Microscopy analysis of the free-standing electrodes after deployment for >90 h of advanced oxidation reveals no obvious signs of corrosion. This likely reflects both the reduced grain boundary density and lower sp² carbon content in thick free-standing BDD. The data highlight the potential for this electrode material in long term electrochemical treatment of short chain PFAS solutions in recirculating flow systems.

PMID:41058913 | PMC:PMC12498407 | DOI:10.1021/acselectrochem.5c00121

Environ Toxicol Chem. 2025 Oct 8:vgaf249. doi: 10.1093/etojnl/vgaf249. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Amphibians serve a central role in food webs and provide a link between aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Because of their dependence on water, amphibians are susceptible to legacy and emerging contaminants. We investigated mercury (Hg) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations in wild populations of two amphibian species-the green frog (Lithobates clamitans) and the American toad (Anaxyrus americanus)-which exhibit different life histories. We evaluated if proximity to PFAS point source (State Superfund site) impacted PFAS exposures in amphibians and assessed length, mass, sex, diet, and trophic position as predictors of contaminant concentrations. We found higher Hg concentrations in the more aquatic species (ie, green frog), but higher PFAS concentrations (summed PFAS, perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA), and perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTeDA)) in the more terrestrial species (ie, American toad). Proximity to the PFAS State Superfund site did not strongly affect PFAS exposures in amphibians. Of the biological predictors tested, diet best explained PFAS concentrations, but other factors (e.g., physiological differences) are likely contributing to the difference in PFAS bioaccumulation between aquatic and terrestrial species. Only three reports on PFAS concentrations in wild amphibians exist, all from contaminated sites in China, reporting much higher concentrations than found here. Additionally, experimental exposure studies have only investigated the effects of exposure to a few PFAS compounds, of which long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) detected here (PFDA, PDUnA, PFDoA, PFTrDA, and PFTeDA) are not represented in the literature. To truly understand the effects that detectable PFAS impose on wild amphibians, research is needed on the effects of more PFAS compounds, bioaccumulation in larval and terrestrial amphibians, and the elimination of PFAS via their skin to different media.

PMID:41059991 | DOI:10.1093/etojnl/vgaf249

Mikrochim Acta. 2025 Oct 8;192(11):718. doi: 10.1007/s00604-025-07585-0.

ABSTRACT

A novel surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based approach is introduced for the highly sensitive detection of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics in serum samples using silver nanowire mesh (AgNWM) as SERS substrates. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering performance of AgNWM substrates was optimized using rhodamine 6G as a probe molecule, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) of 10^-9 M. Serum samples were subjected to pre-treatment steps, including protein removal, sample enrichment, and concentration, enabling quantitative detection of multiple PFAS species at as low as 10^-8 M. PTFE and PS nanoplastics were also successfully identified at a concentration of 100 ng·mL^-1. Furthermore, the AgNWM substrates exhibited significant stability and could be reused up to 10 times for plastic detection without substantial loss of sensitivity. This highly sensitive SERS platform provides an innovative and effective methodology for the detection of PFAS, PTFE, and PS nanoplastics in complex biological matrices, with considerable potential for clinical and environmental analyses.

PMID:41060456 | DOI:10.1007/s00604-025-07585-0

Mikrochim Acta. 2025 Oct 8;192(11):718. doi: 10.1007/s00604-025-07585-0.

ABSTRACT

A novel surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based approach is introduced for the highly sensitive detection of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics in serum samples using silver nanowire mesh (AgNWM) as SERS substrates. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering performance of AgNWM substrates was optimized using rhodamine 6G as a probe molecule, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) of 10^-9 M. Serum samples were subjected to pre-treatment steps, including protein removal, sample enrichment, and concentration, enabling quantitative detection of multiple PFAS species at as low as 10^-8 M. PTFE and PS nanoplastics were also successfully identified at a concentration of 100 ng·mL^-1. Furthermore, the AgNWM substrates exhibited significant stability and could be reused up to 10 times for plastic detection without substantial loss of sensitivity. This highly sensitive SERS platform provides an innovative and effective methodology for the detection of PFAS, PTFE, and PS nanoplastics in complex biological matrices, with considerable potential for clinical and environmental analyses.

PMID:41060456 | DOI:10.1007/s00604-025-07585-0

J Hazard Mater. 2025 Oct 3;499:140044. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140044. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and microplastics (MPs) are increasingly being recognized as co-occurring emerging contaminants that pose environmental and human health risks. While both pollutant classes have been extensively studied independently, their interactions, combined environmental behavior, and co-exposure pathways remain insufficiently understood. Herein, we identify their common emission sources and overlapping spatial distributions, highlighting the four major anthropogenic sources responsible for their dual emission. Subsequently, we describe their co-existence across environmental compartments, with particular emphasis on adsorption processes, providing strong evidence of their interaction and co-transport. Adsorption efficiency is shown to be strongly influenced by their molecular features (e.g., PFAS structure and polymer type) and environmental conditions (e.g., pH, NOM and ionic strength). Furthermore, we provide the first integrated comparison of their biological transfer processes, including evidence of PFAS and MP co-exposure in humans. Finally, we consolidate these findings into a coherent framework, underscoring the urgent need for standardized analytical protocols, long-term and low-dose exposure studies, and cross-scale approaches that bridge molecular interactions with ecological and human health outcomes.

PMID:41056724 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140044

J Hazard Mater. 2025 Oct 3;499:140044. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140044. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and microplastics (MPs) are increasingly being recognized as co-occurring emerging contaminants that pose environmental and human health risks. While both pollutant classes have been extensively studied independently, their interactions, combined environmental behavior, and co-exposure pathways remain insufficiently understood. Herein, we identify their common emission sources and overlapping spatial distributions, highlighting the four major anthropogenic sources responsible for their dual emission. Subsequently, we describe their co-existence across environmental compartments, with particular emphasis on adsorption processes, providing strong evidence of their interaction and co-transport. Adsorption efficiency is shown to be strongly influenced by their molecular features (e.g., PFAS structure and polymer type) and environmental conditions (e.g., pH, NOM and ionic strength). Furthermore, we provide the first integrated comparison of their biological transfer processes, including evidence of PFAS and MP co-exposure in humans. Finally, we consolidate these findings into a coherent framework, underscoring the urgent need for standardized analytical protocols, long-term and low-dose exposure studies, and cross-scale approaches that bridge molecular interactions with ecological and human health outcomes.

PMID:41056724 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140044

Environ Sci Process Impacts. 2025 Oct 6. doi: 10.1039/d5em00357a. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Three Quantitative Structure Property Relationship (QSPR) software packages, IFSQSAR, OPERA, and EPI Suite are compared and assessed for prediction accuracy, applicability domain (AD) and uncertainty of the predictions. A database of experimental physical-chemical (PC) properties is compiled, merged, and filtered, and the QSPRs are assessed with datasets of octanol-water (K_OW), octanol-air (K_OA), and air-water (K_AW) partition ratios. Upper and lower limits on PC property predictions are proposed based on theory, data, and applications of the properties in hazard screening and risk assessment. Validations of the uncertainty metrics of the QSPR packages are done for the PC properties using experimental data external to all training datasets. The IFSQSAR 95% prediction interval (PI95) calculated from root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) captures 90% of the external data, while OPERA and EPI Suite require a factor increase of at least 4 and 2 respectively for their PI95 to capture a similar 90% of the external experimental data. The assessment of QSPR consensus predictions identified future research and experimental testing to improve the predictive models for data-poor chemicals such as polyfluorinated or per-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), ionizable chemicals, and chemicals with complex and multifunctional structures.

PMID:41047783 | DOI:10.1039/d5em00357a

J Agric Food Chem. 2025 Oct 15;73(41):25967-25977. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5c08608. Epub 2025 Oct 6.

ABSTRACT

The occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including the isomers of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in market fish species from both benthic and pelagic habitats was assessed. Thirteen PFAS were detected, with PFOS and PFOA present in all samples; PFOA showed the highest median concentration (1.21 ng/g ww). The total PFAS concentration ranged from 1.29 ng/g ww (in tilapia) to 5.37 ng/g ww (in rainbow trout). Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) revealed habitat-specific PFOS isomer patterns: benthic fish contained linear and all the monosubstituted isomers, while pelagic fish showed linear and fewer monosubstituted types. The median concentration of linear PFOS was 0.445 ng/g ww, with cod exhibiting the highest level at 0.670 ng/g ww, and tilapia the lowest at 0.30 ng/g ww. IMS enabled the first-ever identification of PFOA isomers in fish. These findings underscore the importance of isomer-specific PFAS resolution for dietary risk assessments and shape guidelines.

PMID:41047947 | DOI:10.1021/acs.jafc.5c08608

ACS Omega. 2025 Sep 18;10(38):44311-44320. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.5c05815. eCollection 2025 Sep 30.

ABSTRACT

Per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances (aka PFAS) are a class of anthropogenic compounds that have come under scrutiny given their ability to bioaccumulate in the environment and negatively impact health outcomes. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are an emerging category of sorbents that are attractive for PFAS remediation given their readily modifiable nature. Here we show that the charge compensating anions (cca's) formate (FA), acetate (AA), trifluoroacetate (TFA), and chloride have a significant impact on the adsorption of perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS) within MOF-808. Kinetic measurements indicate that MOF-808 rapidly adsorbs PFBS with equilibrium reached within 50 min or less. The kinetic data is well-fit to the pseudo first-order Langmuir model and the resultant pseudo first-order rate constants vary by a factor of 4 (0.16-0.61 min^-1) based on the cca's identity. The adsorption capacity of PFBS also varies by a factor of 4 (95-372 mg/g) when challenged with 500 mg/L solutions and that PFBS adsorption correlates with the quantity of cca's (monocarboxylate plus chloride) removed during PFBS adsorption. PFBS adsorption isotherms indicate that MOF-808 exhibits excellent maximum adsorption capacities up to 837 mg PFBS/g MOF but binds PFBS relatively weakly (K _L values no larger than 7.72 × 10^-3 L/mg). Kinetic, IR spectroscopic, and cca-dependent adsorption data are consistent with PFBS adsorption occurring via ion-exchange of cca's. Our data demonstrate the importance of controlling and understanding the composition of cca's when studying PFAS adsorption within MOFs.

PMID:41048751 | PMC:PMC12489849 | DOI:10.1021/acsomega.5c05815

Environ Pollut. 2025 Oct 4;386:127216. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127216. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA) has been introduced as a potential alternative to the environmentally persistent perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Despite its increasing application, there remains a substantial knowledge gap regarding its toxicological profile, especially in freshwater species such as the hook snout carp (Opsariichthys bidens Günther). To address this concern, we systematically evaluated and compared the hepatic toxicity of HFPO-TA and PFOA in O. bidens under uniform exposure durations for 60 days. HFPO-TA demonstrated a significantly greater capacity to induce liver injury, evidenced by pronounced oxidative stress, elevated rates of programmed cell death, and disruption of immune, hormonal, and metabolic functions, even at exposure levels approximating those detected in natural aquatic systems. Enzymatic and immunological assays showed that both HFPO-TA and PFOA suppressed the contents of carboxylesterase (CarE) (reduced by 11-65 %) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (reduced by 18-52 %). Moreover, the integrated biomarker response (IBR) index highlighted gst expression and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity as promising early biomarkers for detecting exposure to PFOA and HFPO-TA, respectively. Besides, the higher IBR value of HFPO-TA (with an average of 3.37) compared to that of PFOA (with an average of 2.84) suggested that this alternative polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exerted a stronger overall toxic effect on O. bidens than its corresponding legacy compound. Taken together, these findings implied that HFPO-TA might pose even higher toxic effects than its predecessor, challenging the assumption that newer PFAS substitutes are inherently safer. This study emphasized the necessity of critically re-evaluating the environmental safety of emerging PFAS alternatives before their widespread adoption.

PMID:41052667 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127216

Water Res. 2025 Sep 24;288(Pt B):124674. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.124674. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) do not mineralize in conventional wastewater treatment processes and accumulate in effluents and biosolids. Land-application of biosolids improves soil health; however, PFAS may leach from applied biosolids posing a threat to underlying groundwater systems. In general, transport mechanisms controlling PFAS leaching from biosolids are not fully understood. In this study, two municipal biosolids were mixed with soil at agricultural loading rates and packed in saturated flow-through columns. Biosolids, biosolids-amended soils (pre- and post-leaching) and column eluants were analyzed via targeted analysis, total oxidizable precursor assay (TOP), and suspect screening. Saturated column results were modeled using HYDRUS 1-D to obtain transport parameters. Resulting parameters were used to simulate long-term leaching of two PFAS under field-relevant conditions. Mass balances in column systems show that the majority of precursors (>65 %) in biosolid-amended soils remained sorbed after flow-through experiments. TOP assay results for column eluants suggested that the small fraction of unknown precursors mobilized in column experiments were short-chain precursors (≤C7). Transport modeling in HYDRUS 1-D demonstrated that PFAS desorption from biosolid-amended soils was rate-limited under saturated conditions. Long-term modeling of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate transport using conditions representative of the upper midwestern United States found aqueous concentrations of 107 and <1 ng/L, respectively, reaching the saturated zone after 40 yrs of annual biosolids applications. This suggests that at some land application sites, best management practices focused on PFAS in municipal biosolids should include multi-pathway exposure analysis, considering the soil to groundwater pathway for more mobile PFAS and shallow soils and porewater, along with processes such as plant uptake, runoff, and tile drainage for less mobile PFAS.

PMID:41045884 | DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2025.124674

Water Res. 2025 Sep 26;288(Pt B):124685. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.124685. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

To better understand natural organic matter (NOM) impacts on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) removal in drinking water, this study investigated PFAS breakthrough from pilot-scale fixed-bed anion exchange columns fed a stable water quality influent with and without addition of reconstituted Ohio River water NOM at four empty bed contact times (EBCTs; 0.5-, 1.0-, 1.5-, and 2.5- min). PFAS elution order was mostly consistent with previously reported batch-derived selectivity with respect to chloride (K_x/Cl), with deviations in bed volumes to early breakthrough (BV10) attributed to molecular size-exclusion kinetic limitations. Earlier breakthrough was observed with NOM compared to without NOM, and NOM impacts on BV10 were greater for larger, later-eluting PFAS. Subsequently, an ion exchange column model (IEX-CM; https://github.com/USEPA/Water_Treatment_Models) was applied to evaluate correlations for estimating film mass transfer coefficient (k_L) and to estimate PFAS intraparticle diffusion coefficient (D_s) and K_x/Cl by fitting PFAS effluent data to IEX-CM simulated concentrations, resulting in most PFAS breakthrough curves being well-described by IEX-CM simulations. Some deviations from the IEX-CM were noted, including unexplained chromatographic effects on perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), and most surprisingly, apparent non-adsorption removal of hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA or GenX chemicals), which was enhanced by increasing EBCT and absence of NOM.

PMID:41043365 | DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2025.124685

Environ Res. 2025 Oct 1;286(Pt 3):122997. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.122997. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Depression and perceived stress are common perinatal morbidities. We assessed associations between prenatal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with prenatal and postpartum depression and perceived stress. We analyzed concentrations of 7 PFAS in maternal plasma or serum in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) cohort (n = 4403). We ascertained prenatal depression diagnosis; prenatal and postpartum depressive symptom severity using a Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Depression (PROMIS-D) t-score; and prenatal and postpartum perceived stress using a Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) t-score. Linear and modified Poisson models assessed associations of PFAS with outcomes. Quantile g-computation assessed PFAS mixtures. We evaluated effect modification by nativity and Social Vulnerability Index. N-MeFOSAA was positively associated, PFDA was inversely associated, and PFOS and PFOA were nonlinearly associated with multiple outcomes. For example, the highest category of N-MeFOSAA was associated with 0.93 (95 %CI: -0.17, 2.03) units higher postpartum PROMIS-D t-scores, and 1.88 (95 %CI: 1.05, 2.72) units higher postpartum PSS t-scores. In contrast, the highest category of PFDA was associated with 25 % (risk ratio [RR]: 0.75 [95 %CI: 0.56, 1.01]) lower risk of depression diagnosis and 0.83 (95 %CI: 0.14, 1.51) units lower prenatal PSS t-scores. The middle and highest categories of PFOS were associated with 26 % (RR: 1.26 [95 %CI: 1.05,1.52]) higher and 38 % (RR: 0.62 [95 %CI: 0.37, 1.05]) lower risk of depression diagnosis; and 0.97 (95 %CI: 0.09, 1.84) units higher and 0.04 (95 %CI: -1.53, 1.62) units lower prenatal PSS t-score. Some PFAS may be associated with altered depressive symptoms and perceived stress; investigation into mechanisms is needed.

PMID:41043503 | DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2025.122997

Environ Pollut. 2025 Oct 1;386:127199. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127199. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Groundwater contamination by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is an emerging threat to drinking water quality, highlighting the need for effective treatment solutions. This study investigated subsurface flow constructed wetlands for treating groundwater contaminated with PFAS. The wetlands used a peat, biochar, and lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) filter substrate, planted with either tufted sedge (Carex elata), fiber hemp (Cannabis sativa Futura 75), or an intercropping of the two Salix clones S. Wilhelm and S. Loden. The experiment was conducted under field conditions in Sweden, during one growing season, using PFAS-contaminated groundwater impacted by landfill leachate. The study showed accumulation of PFAS in all plant species and the peat and biochar part of the filter substrate, with short-chain PFAS and perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) dominating when considering the whole plants (57 % and 77 % of ƩPFAS, respectively) and long-chain PFAS and perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs) dominating in the peat and biochar filter substrate (77 % and 54 % of ƩPFAS, respectively). Sorption to the filter substrate was shown to be the primary mechanism for PFAS removal. The highest plant PFAS concentrations were found in leaves, followed by roots, for all species. There was a difference in the PFAS composition profile when comparing different plant tissues, with PFCAs dominating in leaves (84 % of ƩPFAS) and PFSAs dominating in roots (66 % of ƩPFAS). All plant species were determined to have an above-ground tissue/water phase concentrations >10/1 for C₃-PFCA (PFBA). This was also observed for C. sativa with C₄- and C₇-PFCAs (PFPeA, PFOA), and C₄- and C₅-PFSAs (PFBS, PFPeS), for C. elata with C₈-PFSA (L-PFOS), and for S. Loden with PFPeA. ∑PFAS phytoextraction potential from landfill leachate-impacted groundwater (mg/ha yr) was estimated to be 940 ± 670 for C. sativa, 390 ± 310 for S. Loden, 330 ± 160 for S. Wilhelm, and 160 ± 56 for C. elata.

PMID:41043528 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127199

Am J Clin Nutr. 2025 Oct;122(4):1006-1026. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.07.039. Epub 2025 Sep 23.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Foods, including human milk (HM) and infant formula (IF), can be sources of environmental contaminant exposure for infants, which can impact health and development.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review describes arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations in HM and IF in the United States (PROSPERO #CRD42024528756).

METHODS: We searched CAB Abstracts, CENTRAL, CINAHL, Embase, and MEDLINE for peer-reviewed articles published in English through 2 April, 2025 (no date restrictions). Studies that assessed contaminant concentrations in HM or IF from countries rated as "high" or "very high" on the Human Development Index were eligible. Screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessments were performed by 2 independent reviewers. We narratively synthesized United States studies and assessed the certainty of evidence with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). We developed heat maps for studies from all countries that may help inform evidence gaps in future systematic reviews.

RESULTS: From the United States, 14 HM and 16 IF studies were included. For HM, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentrations ranged from undetected to 36.1 pg/mL, and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) ranged from undetected to 106 pg/mL (GRADE: moderate); evidence was lacking for perfluorononanoic acid and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid. For IF, all PFAS were largely undetected (GRADE: moderate). For HM and IF, studies for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury had small and unrepresentative samples, and most were published before 2000. We identified 317 and 108 articles for HM and IF, respectively, from other countries.

CONCLUSIONS: In published, peer-reviewed United States studies, PFOA and PFOS were detected in HM; PFAS were largely undetected in IF. There was a paucity of contemporary evidence for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in HM or IF in the United States, but we identified evidence from other countries that could help inform these knowledge gaps. Public health agencies recommend feeding infants HM given the benefits outweigh potential risks of contaminant exposure. This trial was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42024528756 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024528756).

PMID:41043870 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.07.039

Front Microbiol. 2025 Sep 17;16:1682831. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1682831. eCollection 2025.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41040881 | PMC:PMC12484134 | DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1682831

Chem Sci. 2025 Aug 21. doi: 10.1039/d5sc03019f. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

A tractable approach to solving the exact many-body electronic wavefunction has long remained an elusive goal in quantum chemistry. Accurate computation of the electronic structure and related properties of molecules would unlock a trove of precise information, but the exponential scaling of exact methods has impeded this possibility. In this work, we report that the combination of an incremental expansion of electronic correlation with effective utilization of modern cloud compute environments can overcome the long-standing barrier of intractability. As a demonstration of viability, we investigate the bond breaking of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of strongly correlated systems with pressing environmental relevance. Using the incremental Full Configuration Interaction (iFCI) method, we decompose the many-body wavefunction into independently computable units and distribute them across a record-breaking one million simultaneous cloud vCPUs. Calculations for perfluorooctanoic acid, the largest PFAS studied, involve correlating 150 electrons in 330 orbitals, corresponding to a wavefunction dimension of ∼10¹⁵¹ configurations and producing the most accurate correlation energies and electron densities to date. iFCI reveals an electron localization transition in the electronic state during bond dissociation, which standard quantum chemical methods (e.g., DFT) fail to capture due to insufficient treatment of correlation. The union of a highly parallel cloud-enabled infrastructure with a polynomial-scaling method that treats static and dynamical correlation on equal footing lays the foundation for further development of novel protocols for the degradation of PFAS, alongside potential for characterization and screening of advanced molecules and materials in a wide range of chemistries.

PMID:41036076 | PMC:PMC12483100 | DOI:10.1039/d5sc03019f

J Allergy Clin Immunol Glob. 2025 Aug 28;4(4):100561. doi: 10.1016/j.jacig.2025.100561. eCollection 2025 Nov.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis and pollen sensitization typically increase with age; however, longitudinal data on the prevalence of pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) among Japanese adolescents are limited.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the prevalence, causal foods, and sensitization status of PFAS among 17-year-olds and explored its association with comorbid allergic conditions.

METHODS: This study was conducted as part of the Tokyo Child Health, Disease, and Development Research, a prospective birth cohort study involving the general population. Adolescents aged 17 (range, 16-18) years participated in a cross-sectional survey that included a medical history and health questionnaire, alongside serum IgE testing by ImmunoCAP ISAC. Statistical analyses were performed by descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: Among 458 participants, 54.4% had current pollen allergy and 11.2% had PFAS. The most common causal foods were apples (45.1%), kiwis (41.2%), and pineapples (39.2%). Sensitization rates were high for Cry j 1 (96.1%), Bet v 1 (70.6%), Mal d 1 (64.7%), and Pru p 1 (62.7%). Additionally, 43.1% of adolescents with PFAS had a history of atopic dermatitis, suggesting a link between PFAS and the concept of the allergic march. Rhinitis symptoms peaked in spring, with 79.8% reporting symptoms, particularly in March and April.

CONCLUSION: This study examined the prevalence and sensitization status of PFAS among Japanese adolescents. PFAS was common in those with pollen allergies and was associated with atopic dermatitis, supporting the allergic march hypothesis. Apples, kiwis, and pineapples were the most frequently implicated foods. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing PFAS in managing adolescent allergic conditions.

PMID:41035676 | PMC:PMC12483659 | DOI:10.1016/j.jacig.2025.100561

J Hazard Mater. 2025 Sep 27;498:139939. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139939. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Drinking water with per- and polyfluorosubstances (PFAS) contaminants poses serious public health risks, prompting intensive efforts to develop effective remediation strategies. Among these, photodegradation processes are particularly promising because of their efficiency and intrinsic environmental friendliness. However, the experimental identification of suitable photoactive materials and a detailed understanding of the underlying reaction mechanisms are challenging because of the inherent complexity of these excited-state processes. Using our recently developed real-time electron-nuclear dynamics approach (J Am Chem Soc 2024;146:35313-20), we demonstrate efficient photoinduced degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) on a plasmonic Au(111) surface with visible light at 530 nm. Our approach enables large-scale simulations (containing over 400 atoms) beyond conventional quantum calculations, which are required to capture the complex photoinduced degradation dynamics in realistic aqueous environments. In particular, our results highlight a complex interplay of collective excitations between the Au(111) surface and adsorbed PFOA molecule, where the surrounding water molecules play an active role in charge transfer that drives the degradation process. Our photoinduced dynamics approaches highlight the utility of plasmonic surfaces and water for efficient PFAS degradation; moreover, these predictive calculations can be used to prescreen candidate material surfaces, solvents, and photocatalytic conditions to remediate PFAS and other environmental contaminants. Environmental Implication: Our time-resolved electron-nuclear dynamics simulations reveal that the plasmonic Au(111) surface is an effective photoactive material that can enable PFOA degradation with visible light (530 nm). Moreover, our results surprisingly show that the surrounding water molecules are not merely spectators in the degradation process and actively participate to enhance charge transfer and promote PFOA decomposition.

PMID:41037900 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139939

Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Oct 14;59(40):21567-21578. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c06744. Epub 2025 Oct 2.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental pollutants that are notoriously recalcitrant to biodegradation. We explored the biotransformation and defluorination of (E)-perfluoro-4-methylpent-2-enoic acid (PFMeUPA), a perfluorinated compound with diverse C-F bonds, using municipal anaerobic digestion sludge. Defluorination was stimulated with various substrate amendments and characterized by the release of fluoride (F^-) and the formation of corresponding byproducts. Methanol, formate, acetate, and lactate enhanced reductive defluorination as electron donors. However, the addition of vitamin B₁₂ (a cobalt-corrin complex), which commonly enhances reductive dehalogenation, had no effect. The methanogenesis inhibitor 2-bromoethanesulfonate had no significant effect, ruling out direct participation by methanogens. After 80 days of incubation, Sulfurospirillum and Asaccharospora exhibited significantly higher relative abundance in all substrate-amended treatment groups compared to those in both the original inoculum and control groups (no substrate or no PFAS added), indicating selective enrichment under defluorinating conditions. Comparative analysis of genomes that were enriched relative to the inoculum and that harbored the fluoride exporter crcB gene (n = 23) versus genomes lacking crcB (n = 233) revealed two novel defluorinating candidates belonging to the Sulfurospirillum genus (A_bin.69 and M_bin.68). Overall, these findings advance the understanding of anaerobic PFAS biodegradation and suggest crcB as an auxiliary biomarker to discover putative defluorinating species.

PMID:41037340 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c06744

Mar Environ Res. 2025 Sep 25;212:107581. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107581. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) are an efficient firefighting strategy worldwide, and many of these products consist of complex mixtures containing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The use of PFAS-based AFFFs is concerning because some of their constituents are classified as Persistent Organic Pollutants, thus their utilization during firefighting in industrial and harbor areas may increase the environmental impacts. In this study, the AFFFs toxicity to marine invertebrates was assessed using waterborne exposure. Seven PFAS-based commercial AFFFs (AFFF-1 to AFFF-7) employed to combat a major fire in the Port of Santos (Brazil) were obtained tested for acute toxicity to the brine shrimp Artemia salina and chronic toxicity to embryos of the brown mussel Perna perna, the sand dollar Mellita quinquiesperforata, and the sea urchins Lytechinus variegatus and Echinometra lucunter. Chronic toxicity tests on the reproduction of the copepod Nitokra sp. were conducted for two of the samples. All AFFFs were toxic to the marine species tested. Toxic dilutions were reported from 0.0001 % to 0.001 %, equivalent to concentrations between 1 and 10 thousand times lower than the application rates recommended by the manufacturers. AFFF-1, AFFF-5, and AFFF-7 were classified as moderately toxic, whereas AFFF-3, AFFF-4, and AFFF-5 were highly toxic, and AFFF-2 was very highly toxic. The hazard quotient values were elevated, ranging from 100 to 1000 times above the established thresholds. Our findings provide critical insights into the environmental hazards of AFFF use, particularly in Latin America and Caribbean coastal ecosystems, where regulatory frameworks are still being developed.

PMID:41037992 | DOI:10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107581

J Hazard Mater. 2025 Sep 29;498:139995. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139995. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Substituted chlorobenzenes and volatile per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are significant environmental contaminants that impact the soil and air ecosystems. This study investigates the soil-air exchange behavior of these compounds and develops models to predict their exchange under varying environmental conditions. The soil-air partitioning coefficient (K_SA) was determined for substituted chlorobenzenes using a solid-phase fugacity meter under different temperatures, relative humidity, and soil organic carbon contents. The results indicate that temperature, relative humidity, and soil organic carbon content significantly influence K_SA values. Higher temperatures and humidity increase the volatilization of substituted chlorobenzenes from soil to air, while higher organic carbon content reduces volatility. A multiple linear regression (K_SA-MLR) model was developed to predict K_SA values, showing high accuracy (adjusted R² = 0.956). Additionally, a fugacity-based model (K_{SA-In situ}) was established to quantify the actual soil-air exchange of these compounds at contaminated sites or in laboratory microenvironments. The K_{SA-In situ} model demonstrated better accuracy than the K_SA-MLR model in non-equilibrium conditions. This study provides insight into the soil-air behavior and fate of substituted chlorobenzenes and volatile PFAS at contaminated sites. It also offers a robust predictive framework for quantifying their soil-air exchange under varying environmental conditions. This enhances our understanding of their transport mechanisms and supports more effective environmental management and risk assessment.

PMID:41037911 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139995

Water Res. 2025 Sep 24;288(Pt B):124666. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.124666. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Accurate quantification of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in complex matrices, such as sewage sludge, is an ongoing challenge. To address this issue, a rigorously validated, robust, and efficient method for a wide range of PFAS (48 different species) extraction in sludge was developed. By optimizing liquid-solid ratio (30 mL/g), extracting solvent (methanol ammonia hydroxide (99.5 : 0.5, v/v)), oscillation time (60 min, 300 rpm), and pH of extraction solution (pH = 3) before solid phase extraction, an acceptable recovery (50 %-125 %) of the majority target PFAS (45 of 48) with low relative standard deviation (≤ 16.84 %) was achieved. Compared to currently widely used extraction methods, such as ASTM D2216, a Chinese standard (HJ 1334-2023) and the U.S. EPA method 1633A, the proposed method achieves a 17.3 %-27.6 % increase in the extracted total PFAS concentration for target analysis. Furthermore, it enables the identification of 3 additional PFAS types, thereby enhancing the scope and accuracy of PFAS analysis. During the investigation of matrix effects, despite the higher organic matter content in anaerobically digested sludge (71.8 %) compared to waste activated sludge (46.3 %), the matrix effect in the former was significantly lower during PFAS extraction and detection. This result suggests that unstable organic matter in sludge may primarily contribute to the observed matrix effects. Furthermore, reducing the injection volume during mass spectrometry analysis, diluting samples prior to detection, and applying internal standards correction can effectively mitigate matrix effects. When this method was applied to the analysis of different sludge samples (n = 10), all samples exhibited satisfied recoveries of internal standards within the range of 50 %-150 % except for long-chain ¹³C₂-PFDoA in a sludge sample. Long-chain PFAS, such as PFOA and PFOS, remained the predominant compounds in different sludge. These findings highlight the method's reliability for complex matrices and its potential for broader environmental monitoring.

PMID:41038116 | DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2025.124666

Environ Pollut. 2025 Sep 30;386:127189. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127189. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a global health concern linked to metabolic abnormalities and increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Recent studies suggest that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may contribute to MetS through alterations in gut microbiota and metabolism, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PFAS exposure on gut microbiota composition and metabolism in MetS using a three-stage, automated, computer-controlled in vitro Human Colonic Model (HCM) system. We introduced PFAS exposure to the gut microbiome in vitro at two concentrations (100 ng/mL and 1000 ng/mL) and analyzed microbial community structure using microbiome analysis, while changes in gut microbial metabolism were assessed through targeted and untargeted metabolomics. Our results showed that PFAS exposure significantly altered gut microbiota composition, with notable changes in key genera such as Morganella and Bilophila. Metabolomics analysis revealed an increase in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production at 1000 ng/mL of PFAS exposure, as well as significant alterations in other metabolites, including decreased acetophenone and taurocholic acid in both concentrations. These findings suggest that PFAS exposure may disrupt gut microbiota homeostasis and contribute to metabolic disturbances associated with MetS. This study highlights the need for further investigation into the mechanisms underlying PFAS-induced alterations in gut microbiota and their potential impact on human health.

PMID:41038555 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127189

Environ Pollut. 2025 Sep 30;386:127186. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127186. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The combined impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) on native microbial communities in subsurface remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed high-throughput sequencing to investigate the impacts of concurrent PFASs and CAHs on the indigenous microbial communities in soil and groundwater. Additionally, we assessed the relative contributions of deterministic and stochastic processes in shaping microbial community assembly across these two subsurface compartments. The results revealed that perfluorooctanoic acid was the dominant PFAS compound in subsurface, and short-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (C < 8) were prevalent in groundwater, while perfluorosulfonic acids were more likely retained in soil. CAHs were detected at concentrations up to 650.15 mg/L in groundwater, suggesting the presence of dense non-aqueous-phase liquids in subsurface. The comparative analysis on the microbial diversity and compositions showed that microbial diversity in groundwater was more influenced by the distribution of contaminants compared to that in soil. Additionally, the βNTI analysis results indicated that microbial community assembly in soil was mainly shaped by homogeneous selection, whereas stochastic processes dominated the evolution of microbial community in groundwater. Furthermore, anaerobic fermentative taxa species such as Bacillus and Sva0485 dominated in soil, while aerobic pollutant-degrading taxa like Oxalobacteraceae and Dehalogenimonas were enriched in groundwater. These findings highlight the need to consider microbial communities and ecological processes when designing effective in-situ bioremediation strategies.

PMID:41038559 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127186

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2025 Oct 2. doi: 10.1038/s41370-025-00806-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Bioaccumulation, widespread usage, and adverse human health effects emphasize per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as an important public health concern. There is a need for an aggregate PFAS exposure measure due to the increasing diversity of structures. Aggregate measures are important for informing clinical care, biomonitoring, and research standardization. Current approaches for human biomonitoring of PFAS include targeting and quantifying a limited number of molecules and estimating exposure based on summed concentrations or statistical modeling. Extractable organofluorine (EOF) has been proposed as an aggregate PFAS biomarker that quantifies the total organically bound fluorine in a sample, encompassing PFAS regardless of knowing the exact chemical structures. However, EOF in human biomonitoring studies or environmental epidemiology is limited.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to comprehensively assess human studies that measure EOF and target PFAS in the same sample by conducting a literature search, data extraction, and secondary data analysis.

METHODS: We assessed the correlation of three aggregate PFAS exposure metrics with each other: EOF, adjusted summed concentrations of PFAS identified by the National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), and PFAS burden scores.

RESULTS: Across 8 published studies from US, Asia and Europe with 163 samples, EOF concentrations were higher than NASEM summed PFAS concentrations, and EOF was strongly associated with PFAS burden scores and NASEM sum. EOF does not identify or differentiate non-PFAS sources of fluorine which limits identification of individual molecules and their potential toxicity.

SIGNIFICANCE: Correlations between EOF, summed targeted PFAS concentrations, and PFAS burden scores demonstrated that EOF is a practical tool for estimating PFAS exposure and identifying individuals with high exposure to PFAS. Thus, EOF could be utilized for identifying individuals or sub-populations with high aggregate PFAS exposure. Practical considerations in laboratory analyses, including instrumentation, sample matrix, and sample extraction procedure, remain potential barriers to widespread implementation of EOF as a biomonitoring tool.

IMPACT: This study highlights the potential of extractable organofluorine (EOF) as a comprehensive biomarker for assessing aggregate PFAS exposure in human populations. By analyzing data from eight studies across the US, Asia, and Europe, we found that EOF concentrations were higher than summed PFAS concentrations and correlated strongly with PFAS burden scores. Although EOF does not identify specific fluorine sources, its strong associations suggest it is a practical tool for detecting high PFAS exposure. While EOF offers promise for identifying at-risk populations, practical challenges in laboratory analyses may limit its widespread use in biomonitoring programs.

PMID:41039080 | DOI:10.1038/s41370-025-00806-x

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2025 Oct 2. doi: 10.1038/s41370-025-00805-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic chemicals with unique properties and functionality that enable multiple industrial processes and product applications. PFAS are generally persistent, widely distributed in environmental media, and linked to various adverse health effects. The primary pathway of PFAS exposure to impacted communities is through contaminated drinking water. While many studies have demonstrated exposures from contaminated drinking water in such communities, less is known about the contribution of exposure from sources within the residential environment.

OBJECTIVE: Measurement data on the nature and level of PFAS in house dust, indoor surfaces, indoor air, soil and wristbands are required to identify and understand important pathways for human exposure.

METHODS: In this study, we collected house dust, surface wipe, indoor air, wristband, and soil samples at homes recruited from two communities previously impacted by drinking water contamination, one in Massachusetts and one in Delaware. At every home (n = 79), a floor dust sample was collected, while in a subset of homes (n = 28), more extensive environmental sampling was conducted. All samples collected were analyzed for up to 70 PFAS depending on the sample type.

RESULTS: PFAS were found in all types of household samples, with 30 different PFAS detected in ≥50% of homes for at least one sample type. Vacuum dust, floor dust and soil had the highest detection rates across most PFAS. However, certain PFAS precursors were more prevalent in surface wipes, indoor air, and wristbands (e.g., FTOHs, FOSEs, FOSAs). diPAPs were widely detected across all sample types and had the highest concentrations among all analytes in dust, surface wipes and wristbands. A comparative analysis between the two sampling sites highlighted significant differences in PFAS profiles, with Delaware exhibiting higher levels of PFAAs in dust and soil, while Massachusetts showed greater concentrations of diPAPs across various media sampled.

SIGNIFICANCE: These findings highlight the widespread presence of PFAS in the residential environment, and the need for mitigation strategies that address both legacy compounds and emerging precursors across numerous media.

IMPACT: This study advances application of methods for sampling and measuring PFAS in the residential environment. The analysis improves our understanding of the relative importance of PFAS exposure sources in communities previously impacted by contaminated drinking water.

PMID:41039081 | DOI:10.1038/s41370-025-00805-y

Environ Pollut. 2025 Sep 29;386:127185. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127185. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental chemicals that have been linked to pancreatic cancer in animal studies, but evidence in humans remains limited. We evaluated associations between pre-diagnostic circulating concentrations of 11 PFAS and pancreatic cancer risk in a nested case-control study within the New York University Women's Health Study, a prospective cohort of 14,273 women. Serum samples collected prior to diagnosis from 116 pancreatic cancer cases and 346 matched controls were analyzed for PFAS levels. Associations between individual PFAS and pancreatic cancer risk were assessed using multivariable conditional logistic regression, and mixture effects were examined using repeated holdout weighted quantile sum (WQSRH) regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). Ten PFAS met the inclusion criteria for analysis. In single-chemical models, N-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamidoacetic acid (NMFOSAA) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) were inversely associated with pancreatic cancer risk, but associations did not remain significant after false discovery rate correction. WQSRH models with negative constraints suggested a borderline inverse association with the PFAS mixture, primarily driven by NMFOSAA, PFOA, and perfluoroundecanoate (PFUNDA), while no significant associations were observed in positively constrained WQSRH or BKMR models. Overall, these findings do not support a positive association between circulating PFAS and pancreatic cancer risk in women. Although some compounds showed suggestive inverse associations, the overall findings indicate no clear link between PFAS exposure and pancreatic cancer risk.

PMID:41033390 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127185

Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Oct 14;59(40):21401-21420. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c07297. Epub 2025 Oct 1.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), as persistent environmental pollutants, require advanced degradation technologies beyond conventional adsorption to mitigate their ecological and health risks. With notable adsorptive and catalytic properties, carbonaceous materials have emerged as a potential group of candidates capable of enhancing the PFAS degradation. Hence, a comprehensive understanding of the roles of carbonaceous materials in PFAS degradation is crucial to paving the way for developing efficient and applicable PFAS degradation technologies. This critical review systematically evaluates the physicochemical properties of carbonaceous materials, reveals their roles in different PFAS degradation technologies, and identifies challenges for real-world application. This study reveals that tailored hydrophobicity, surface functionalization, and porosity in carbonaceous materials significantly improve PFAS adsorption, and the rapid charge transfer and generation of charge carriers enable catalytic activity for PFAS degradation. However, limited material stability during application, interference from complex water matrices, toxicity from material leaching, PFAS degradation intermediates, and chemical additives, along with limited system expandability, remain key challenges. By bridging material science with environmental engineering, this review discusses actionable strategies for developing innovative degradation technologies using carbonaceous materials as well as advancing the technologies toward practical applications.

PMID:41031747 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c07297

Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2025 Oct;80(10):657-672. doi: 10.1097/OGX.0000000000001440.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) is a short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) that has emerged as a significant public health concern due to its widespread environmental contamination and persistent nature. While PFBS is considered to have a shorter half-life in the environment and human body compared to other PFAS compounds, there are still growing concerns about its potential impacts on human health, particularly on female reproduction and birth outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: This literature review critically examines the impact of PFBS exposure on female reproductive health, pregnancy outcomes, and fetal development, synthesizing the most recent data from both human and animal studies.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using data from peer-reviewed articles, clinical trials, animal models, and regulatory reports.

RESULTS: These studies suggest that PFBS may have adverse effects on fertility, pregnancy health, and fetal development. It also explores the current regulatory landscape for PFBS, focusing on policies in Europe, the United States, and Asia while emphasizing the growing global efforts to establish more stringent guidelines and develop effective treatment technologies to mitigate PFBS exposure. Given the bioaccumulative properties of PFBS and its increasing detection through environmental surveillance, ongoing research, especially targeted studies in human populations, is urgently needed to fully elucidate its reproductive toxicity, including its potential transgenerational effects.

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: This review underscores the importance of understanding PFBS mechanisms of action at the molecular and epigenetic levels, as this knowledge will be essential for informing public health strategies, shaping regulatory policies, and developing interventions to reduce human and environmental exposure.

PMID:41032663 | DOI:10.1097/OGX.0000000000001440

Environ Int. 2025 Sep 28;204:109810. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109810. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emerging persistent environmental pollutants with potential risks to microbial ecosystems. However, the influence of PFAS with different chain lengths on horizontal gene transfer, particularly plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) conjugation, remains poorly understood. This study investigated the impacts of short-chain (PFBA, PFHxA) and long-chain (PFNA) PFAS exhibited dual effects on the conjugative transfer of ARGs: PFAS with lower concentration (<0.05 mg/L) enhanced ARGs transfer by increasing the permeability of the cell membrane and ROS content, while higher concentration (>0.05 mg/L) of PFAS led to stronger inhibition through suppressing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. The scarcity of ATP caused cells to rebuild their energy allocation strategies, diverting more energy towards maintaining vital life activities rather than for gene transmission. Notably, short-chain PFAS (e.g. PFBA) of smaller molecular possessed greater facility for entering cells and caused stronger dual effects on cells. However, long-chain PFAS with high hydrophobicity prefers to embed in the phospholipid bilayer, causing weaker dual effects on cells and less frequency of conjugative transfer. These findings revealed the distinct effects of PFAS with different chain lengths on the conjugative transfer of ARGs, and highlighted the critical role of the cell membrane in this phenomenon. This research provides critical insights into the ecological risks posed by PFAS.

PMID:41033070 | DOI:10.1016/j.envint.2025.109810

BMC Med Res Methodol. 2025 Sep 29;25(1):221. doi: 10.1186/s12874-025-02673-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In environmental epidemiology and many other fields, estimating the causal effects of multiple concurrent exposures holds great promise for driving public health interventions and policy changes. Given the predominant reliance on observational data, confounding remains a key consideration, and generalized propensity score (GPS) methods are widely used as causal models to control measured confounders. However, current GPS methods for multiple continuous exposures remain scarce.

METHODS: We proposed a novel causal model for exposure mixtures, called nonparametric multivariate covariate balancing generalized propensity score (npmvCBGPS). A simulation study examined whether npmvCBGPS, an existing multivariate GPS (mvGPS) method, and a linear regression model for the outcome can accurately and precisely estimate the effects of exposure mixtures in a variety of common scenarios. An application study illustrated the analysis of the causal role of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) on BMI.

RESULTS: The npmvCBGPS achieved acceptable covariate balance in all scenarios. The estimates were close to the true value as long as either the exposure or the outcome model was correctly specified, and the results were less impacted by correlations among mixture components. The accuracy and precision of mvGPS and the linear regression model relied on the correctly specified exposure model and outcome model, respectively. The npmvCBGPS outperformed mvGPS in all scenarios. The npmvCBGPS achieved better covariate balance than mvGPS and provided an overall inverse trend between the PFAS mixtures with BMI.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we proposed npmvCBGPS to accurately estimate the causal effects of multiple exposure mixtures on health outcomes. Our approach is applicable across various domains, with a particular emphasis on environmental epidemiology.

PMID:41023872 | PMC:PMC12482879 | DOI:10.1186/s12874-025-02673-4

Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Oct 14;59(40):21379-21381. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c09024. Epub 2025 Sep 30.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41025903 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c09024

J Water Health. 2025 Sep;23(9):1078-1094. doi: 10.2166/wh.2025.073. Epub 2025 Sep 3.

ABSTRACT

An increasing number of Americans rely on bottled water for household use, citing perceptions of poor in-home water quality and/or distrust of public water utilities. We analyzed in-home (n = 23), roadside spring (n = 4), and bottled drinking water (n = 36) in Central Appalachia. All samples were analyzed for regulated (bacteria, inorganic ions) and emerging (PFAS, microplastics) contaminants. Study survey results indicated the majority (83%) of participants viewed their in-home water quality as satisfactory or poor due to negative organoleptic perceptions. Coliform bacteria and sodium levels exceeding recommended levels were detected in 52% of home water samples, though detections varied by source, i.e., high sodium was more often observed in municipal water, while bacteria were more often observed in private system water. Bottled water samples did not exceed any regulations, though median microplastic concentrations were statistically higher (p = 0.001, Wilcoxon rank-sum test) than those recovered from in-home samples. PFAS compounds were detected in some in-home and bottled water samples at very low levels. While in general bottled water appears to be a safe drinking water source in these areas, the associated costs in time and money for lower-income households are considerable, and were estimated by participants as $68-400/month.

PMID:41026134 | DOI:10.2166/wh.2025.073

J Water Health. 2025 Sep;23(9):1078-1094. doi: 10.2166/wh.2025.073. Epub 2025 Sep 3.

ABSTRACT

An increasing number of Americans rely on bottled water for household use, citing perceptions of poor in-home water quality and/or distrust of public water utilities. We analyzed in-home (n = 23), roadside spring (n = 4), and bottled drinking water (n = 36) in Central Appalachia. All samples were analyzed for regulated (bacteria, inorganic ions) and emerging (PFAS, microplastics) contaminants. Study survey results indicated the majority (83%) of participants viewed their in-home water quality as satisfactory or poor due to negative organoleptic perceptions. Coliform bacteria and sodium levels exceeding recommended levels were detected in 52% of home water samples, though detections varied by source, i.e., high sodium was more often observed in municipal water, while bacteria were more often observed in private system water. Bottled water samples did not exceed any regulations, though median microplastic concentrations were statistically higher (p = 0.001, Wilcoxon rank-sum test) than those recovered from in-home samples. PFAS compounds were detected in some in-home and bottled water samples at very low levels. While in general bottled water appears to be a safe drinking water source in these areas, the associated costs in time and money for lower-income households are considerable, and were estimated by participants as $68-400/month.

PMID:41026134 | DOI:10.2166/wh.2025.073

Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Sep 30. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c09769. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Detecting PFAS is challenging due to their diverse chemical structures, lack of standards, complex sample matrices, and the need for sensitive equipment to measure trace levels. Background contamination and the sheer number of PFAS further hinder the development of a universal detection method. Liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) is the primary tool capable of analyzing PFAS in water, soil, and biological samples, and it is widely adopted in regulatory testing. However, LC-HRMS faces challenges, including contamination risk, labor-intensive preparation, low detection limits, and time-consuming data processing that requires advanced software and expertise to distinguish structurally similar compounds. To overcome these obstacles, we present DeePFAS, a deep-learning-based method for rapid annotation of PFAS. DeePFAS employs a spectral encoder integrating convolutional and transformer architectures to project raw MS2 spectra into a latent space of chemical structural features learned from a large corpus of unlabeled compounds. DeePFAS enables efficient annotation of MS2 spectra by comparing latent representations with candidate molecules, streamlining large-scale nontargeted PFAS screening, and reducing analytical complexity. Our method demonstrates the potential of AI-driven tools in environmental chemistry and is available at https://github.com/CMDM-Lab/DeePFAS.

PMID:41026849 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c09769

Environ Int. 2025 Sep 27;204:109824. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109824. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The link between maternal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure during pregnancy and child development is inconclusive. Addressing this requires better evaluation methods for mixed PFAS exposures and ensuring comparable outcomes. It is important to assess if PFAS mixtures affect developmental outcomes based on evaluation methods or timing.

METHODS: The study included 4,585 participants from the Japan Environment and Children's Study sub-cohort. Maternal plasma PFAS exposure was assessed from the main cohort participants using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Of 28 PFAS compounds, eight detected in over 60 % of samples were selected. Single PFAS concentrations and an item response theory-based PFAS burden score were applied. Outcomes were assessed using the Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development (KSPD) at 2 and 4 years. Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3) at eight-time points until 4 years, with trajectory groups formed growth mixture modeling from ASQ-3 data. Linear and multinomial logistic regression models adjusted for relevant covariates were used.

RESULTS: Positive associations were consistently observed between PFAS (e.g., PFAS burden score, PFNA, PFUnA, PFDoA, PFTrDA) and general and language development in KSPD at 2 and 4 years. Only one negative association was observed between PFHxS and gross motor development in KSPD at age 2. The ASQ-3 trajectory analysis maintained these trends but did not find any significance. No sex-specific differences were detected in KSPD and ASQ-3 trajectory analysis.

CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal PFAS exposure was associated with improved overall development and language-social scores at 2 and 4 years. Only one negative association was observed between PFHxS and gross motor development in KSPD at age 2.

PMID:41027199 | DOI:10.1016/j.envint.2025.109824

J Hazard Mater. 2025 Sep 27;498:139989. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139989. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), known as "forever chemicals" because of their persistent carbon-fluorine bonds, pose critical environmental risks. Sewage sludge is a major reservoir and secondary pollution source of PFASs. This review synthesizes the environmental behavior, analytical methods, global distribution, regulatory landscape, and mitigation strategies of PFASs in sludge. It also addresses complex interactions between PFAS and sludge components (organic matter, inorganic particles, extracellular polymeric substances, and microbial communities), which drive PFAS accumulation via hydrophobic interactions, ion bridging, and complexation. Analytical challenges arise from sludge heterogeneity, high moisture content, and diverse PFAS species. To address these challenges, integrated targeted/non-targeted approaches and total organic fluorine analysis are required. Global monitoring reveals stark regional disparities: U.S. sludge shows ∑PFAS up to 3390 ng/g (dry weight) with dominant long-chain PFOS/PFOA, while Nordic countries exhibit lower levels (PFOS < 10 ng/g) owing to early regulations. Notably, the contents of short-chain PFASs and precursors (e.g., MeFOSAA and EtFOSAA) are increasing, reflecting industrial substitutions and incomplete wastewater treatment. Although regulatory frameworks are shifting from compound-specific limits (e.g., a PFOS of 5.2 ng/g in Maine, US) to class-based controls (e.g., ∑11 PFASs ≤ 3 ng/g in Sweden), many thresholds are insufficient to address contamination levels. Treatment technologies-from physical separation (adsorption and membrane treatments) and thermal destruction (incineration, pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction) to advanced oxidation/reduction processes, plasma/supercritical water oxidation, and biological methods-show varying efficiencies. Thermal destruction approaches (≥650°C) achieve > 99 % mineralization but incur high energy costs, while biological routes achieve limited precursor transformation. Environmental fate assessments highlight three key behaviors of PFAS: migration in amended soils, plant uptake (particularly short-chain PFAS in leafy crops), and "delayed release" from precursor degradation. These behaviors threaten food chains and microbial ecosystems. Key future directions include developing high-sensitivity detection, elucidating binding mechanisms, establishing life-cycle risk models, innovating cost-effective green technologies, and advancing policy-driven management-providing a scientific basis for PFAS control and sustainable sludge utilization.

PMID:41027218 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139989

Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2025 Sep 15;47(9):763. doi: 10.3390/cimb47090763.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), called forever chemicals, persist in the environment and bioaccumulate, posing significant health risks. While epidemiological studies have linked exposure to specific PFAS types, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), to an increased incidence of various cancers, specific tumorigenesis mechanisms are unknown. Here, we investigated the potential molecular markers and signatures of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) tumorigenesis. We performed a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis across multiple species and tissue types (N = 529) using PFOS and PFOA-exposed RNA-Seq samples. Conserved signatures demonstrate significant disruptions in seven key carcinogenic characteristics including metabolic reprogramming, epigenetic modifications, immune suppression, oxidative stress, and genomic instability. Tumorigenic markers such as SERPINE1, FN1, PLIN2, ALDOA, TRIB3, and TSC22D3 and their associated pathways may act independently or synergistically to promote a pro-tumorigenic environment. Additionally, PPARα, LARP1, ACOX1, MYC, and MYCN were identified as key upstream regulators supporting disruptions in lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and uncontrolled cell proliferation. In liver samples, low concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were sufficient to exhibit tumorigenic signatures associated with tumorigenesis initiation and development. Inferred mechanisms of ccRCC initiation and development were linked to lipid metabolism dysregulation and immunosuppressive signaling. In prostate and testicular xenograft tumor models, carcinogenic mechanisms for tumor progression and promotion were hypothesized. Receptor-mediated signaling and protein synthesis was disrupted in prostate cancer and epigenetic alterations and ECM remodeling observed in testicular cancer. We also explored potential therapeutic rescue strategies, including chemopreventive agents for early intervention. All our findings provide hypotheses for PFOS/PFOA-induced tumorigenesis; however, experimental studies are required to establish translational relevance. All the R codes developed in this study are publicly available.

PMID:41020885 | PMC:PMC12468109 | DOI:10.3390/cimb47090763

Int Orthop. 2025 Sep 29. doi: 10.1007/s00264-025-06663-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) deposition, often visible radiographically as chondrocalcinosis, frequently accompanies knee osteoarthritis and is usually encountered at the time of arthroplasty. Whether its presence influences the outcome of patellofemoral arthroplasty (PFA) remains uncertain.

METHODS: We reviewed 100 PFAs performed in 82 patients between 1997 and 2005, and followed them for an average of 22 years (range, 20-25 years). At surgery, 35 knees showed radiographic chondrocalcinosis, and an additional 33 developed calcification during follow-up.

RESULTS: Fifteen knees (15%) required revision to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at a mean of 12 years after PFA. The main reasons for revision were tibiofemoral osteoarthritis progression (6 knees), patellar malalignment (7 knees), one implant loosening, and one patella fracture. The 20-year survival rates were 87% for knees without chondrocalcinosis and 90% for those with chondrocalcinosis, with no significant difference in revision timing between groups (log-rank p = 0.64).

CONCLUSION: Although chondrocalcinosis became more prevalent with age and follow-up, it did not increase the risk of conversion to TKA. These findings suggest that PFA remains a suitable option in carefully selected patients, regardless of the presence of chondrocalcinosis.

PMID:41020959 | DOI:10.1007/s00264-025-06663-5

Environ Sci Process Impacts. 2025 Oct 15;27(10):3050-3075. doi: 10.1039/d5em00145e.

ABSTRACT

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely used and resistant to degradation, leading to their frequent detection in both humans and animals. These substances are believed to be associated with a range of toxic effects. Reproductive toxicity warrants greater attention due to its potential impact on offspring development. This article reviews and summarizes the literature from the past fifteen years on the studies of reproductive toxicity in model organisms induced by PFASs. This article organizes the studies according to the five most commonly used model organisms including mice, rats, zebrafish, Oryzias, and Caenorhabditis elegans. By reviewing the literature, it was found that PFASs primarily induced reproductive toxicity through gonadal damage, disruption of sex hormones, and effects on offspring development. Moreover, mammals, rats and mice possess many conserved signaling pathways with humans, making them valuable models for studying various diseases and metabolic pathways. Zebrafish and Oryzias are well-suited for examining chronic toxicity at environmentally relevant exposure levels, with their high-throughput screening capacity enabling efficient and low-cost assessment of transgenerational effects. In summary, this study systematically reviews the reproductive toxicity of PFASs in model organisms, offering a scientific foundation for optimizing model selection, exploring intervention strategies, and shaping future research directions.

PMID:41017281 | DOI:10.1039/d5em00145e

Toxicol Lett. 2025 Sep 27;413:111731. doi: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2025.111731. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional study investigated the associations between individual and mixed exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and osteoporosis, and explored potential biological mechanisms in 2764 U.S. adults. Multivariable logistic regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were applied to examine associations between individual and mixed PFAS exposure and osteoporosis. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to assess dose-response relationships. Mediation analysis was used to evaluate the mediated effects of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Five PFAS compounds (PFOA, perfluorooctanoic acid; PFOS, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid; PFHxS, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid; PFDeA, perfluorodecanoic acid; PFNA, perfluorononanoic acid) with > 80 % detection rates were selected for investigation in this study. Individual exposure to PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS and PFNA were associated with increased lumbar osteoporosis risk (OR _Ln-PFOA = 1.963, 95 %CI: 1.433, 2.687, OR _Ln-PFOS = 1.422, 95 %CI: 1.061, 1.907, OR _Ln-PFHxS = 1.530, 95 %CI: 1.141, 2.052, OR _Ln-PFNA = 1.597, 95 %CI: 1.218, 2.094). Dose-response relationships were observed for PFOA and PFHxS, particularly in women and young adults. WQS regression demonstrated that mixed PFAS exposure increased osteoporosis risk (OR = 1.198, 1.077-1.318) and decreased bone mineral density (BMD, β = -0.017, -0.026 to -0.008), with PFOA contributing most significantly (41-48 % weight). NLR partially mediated these associations. Bioinformatic analyses further identified osteoporosis-related targets and pathways, with inflammation emerging as a key mechanistic link in these associations. Our findings demonstrated a significant association between PFAS exposure and osteoporosis risk, underscoring the importance of reducing PFAS exposure in mitigating bone disease burden.

PMID:41022338 | DOI:10.1016/j.toxlet.2025.111731

Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Oct 7;59(39):21300-21311. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c06876. Epub 2025 Sep 28.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and fluorinated ionic liquids were investigated in municipal effluents from 30 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across 15 European countries using supercritical fluid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (SFC-HRMS) for nontarget screening. Bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimide (bis-FASI) ionic liquids were detected as bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (NTf₂^-), two rarely reported homologues (±2 CF₂, namely FSI^- and BETI^-), and two previously unreported homologues (±1 CF₂, namely FTFSI^- and FTNTf₂^-). Bis-FASIs were present in 85% of samples and were more abundant in effluents from larger WWTPs. The fluorinated anion PF₆^-, commonly used in ionic liquids, was found in all samples (≤3 μg/L). Hexafluoroarsenate (AsF₆^-), reported here for the first time in municipal wastewater, was detected in 32% of samples in eight countries. PF₆^- and AsF₆^- concentrations exceeded those of traditional PFSAs and PFCAs in 97% of the samples. No removal was detected for perfluorinated compounds, inorganic anions, and low-fluorinated pharmaceuticals and pesticides. Low-fluorinated substances were detected in 90% of samples (>100 ng/L), yet PF₆^- alone surpassed the combined concentration of all low-fluorinated substances in 27 out of 30 samples. These results reveal the significance of unconventional fluorinated substances for the overall fluorine load in wastewater, highlighting the need to extend monitoring strategies beyond legacy PFAS.

PMID:41015941 | PMC:PMC12509314 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c06876

Environ Pollut. 2025 Nov 15;385:127178. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127178. Epub 2025 Sep 26.

ABSTRACT

A benthic macroinvertebrate indicator known as Q-value shows that the ecological quality of rivers in Donegal, Ireland has declined since biological monitoring began in 2004. Previous studies suggested that the insecticide cypermethrin may be a driving factor. Cypermethrin and three other organic chemicals (MCPA, PFOA and PFOS) have been frequently detected in rivers in Donegal since hazardous chemical monitoring started in 2020. Available monitoring data on those organic chemicals and nutrients, from 15 river sites in Donegal between 2020 and 2024, were analysed to estimate their relative impact on river ecological quality, using Q-values as surrogate of ecological quality. Around 10-30 % of cypermethrin, MCPA and phosphate levels were above relevant environmental standards, while PFOA, PFOS and nitrate levels were below. Bivariate analyses showed negative relationships of Q-value with cypermethrin, PFOS and nutrients but not with MCPA or PFOA. Multivariate models confirmed that cypermethrin may be an important driver of ecological decline in Donegal rivers, explaining around 20 % of the Q-value trends (partial R squared, pR²: 0.2009). Q-value trends were also explained by PFOS (pR²: 0.2907), nitrate (pR²: 0.1834) and phosphate (pR²: 0.1073). Our results are based on approximately 1,500 datapoints from 15 (∼4 %) river sampling sites in Donegal. However, they suggest the need to: 1) better align biological and chemical monitoring programmes; 2) assess the ecological impact of chemicals even at relatively low concentrations, and 3) further reduce surface water pollution from nutrients and PFAS. Future studies are recommended using larger datasets from Ireland or other countries with similar monitoring programmes.

PMID:41016653 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127178

Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2025 Sep 26;270:114674. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114674. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are synthetic chemicals with high persistence in the environment and biological systems, raising significant public health concerns. This study developed and evaluated machine learning (ML) models to predict high PFAS exposure among participants in the fourth cycle of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS). The study assessed the effectiveness of a Full model incorporating 64 variables and a Compact model incorporating 10 basic health metrics using six different ML algorithms: random forest (RF), gradient boosting machine (GBM), eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), and K-nearest neighbors (KNN). The study revealed a robust performance across all algorithms, achieving a balanced accuracy of 82 %. Age was the most significant predictor, particularly in individuals aged >45 years. Other critical predictors included serum mercury and serum lead levels in the Full model and hemoglobin levels, alanine aminotransferase, red blood cell counts, and platelet counts in the Compact model. Hence, these findings underscore the potential of ML in improving the identification and management of populations at risk for high PFAS exposure. Consequently, even minimal data sets can yield high predictive accuracy, as demonstrated by the Compact model.

PMID:41014730 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114674

Biomolecules. 2025 Sep 4;15(9):1279. doi: 10.3390/biom15091279.

ABSTRACT

Interactions between protamines and DNA are essential for the correct structure of human sperm chromatin. Reproductive health can be adversely affected by environmental pollutants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). We previously reported that exposure to PFAS in the Veneto region causes alterations in sperm nuclear basic proteins (SNBP), along with reduced seminal antioxidant activity and increased lipoperoxides. This study analysed the protamine-to-histone ratio in SNBP and quantified the extent of DNA damage induced by SNBP in subjects in Veneto with serum perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) levels above the reference threshold. We found that all individuals with serum PFOA above the threshold exhibited grade three DNA damage, regardless of the protamine-histone ratio, which was generally altered but consistently shifted toward protamines. This indicate that exposure to PFAS can alter the protamine-histone ratio in these subjects. Moreover, SNBPs from these individuals showed reduced DNA-protective capacity under pro-oxidant conditions, suggesting a role in oxidative damage. To rationalize these effects, in this cross sectional study, we investigated the potential interactions between PFAS and human protamines by molecular docking analyses which showed that PFAS can form stable complexes with DNA through hydrophobic and polar interactions, especially with thymine pyrimidine rings. Further, docking analyses revealed that fluorine atoms in PFAS may interact with guanidinium groups in protamine P1 via electrostatic and van der Waals forces, competing with DNA for binding sites and potentially disrupting chromatin organisation. A ternary PFAS-DNA-protamine adduct may underpin the observed DNA damage. These results suggest that PFAS induce oxidative stress, which could affect male fertility.

PMID:41008586 | PMC:PMC12467272 | DOI:10.3390/biom15091279

Animals (Basel). 2025 Sep 16;15(18):2712. doi: 10.3390/ani15182712.

ABSTRACT

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have raised increasing concern due to their potential effects on reproductive health. This review focuses on the impact of EDCs, particularly bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), on domestic ruminants (cattle and sheep) by integrating findings from both in vitro and in vivo studies. The analysis highlights how exposure to EDCs affects steroidogenesis, oxidative stress responses, apoptosis, epigenetic regulation, and overall fertility markers, such as oocyte maturation, sperm motility, and embryo developmental competence. While most data originate from in vitro bovine studies, in vivo research in sheep offers valuable insights. Importantly, given the potential for EDCs to bioaccumulate in animal tissues, these findings hold significant implications for animal health, particularly regarding reproductive physiology and fertility rates.

PMID:41007955 | PMC:PMC12466432 | DOI:10.3390/ani15182712

Animals (Basel). 2025 Sep 16;15(18):2712. doi: 10.3390/ani15182712.

ABSTRACT

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have raised increasing concern due to their potential effects on reproductive health. This review focuses on the impact of EDCs, particularly bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), on domestic ruminants (cattle and sheep) by integrating findings from both in vitro and in vivo studies. The analysis highlights how exposure to EDCs affects steroidogenesis, oxidative stress responses, apoptosis, epigenetic regulation, and overall fertility markers, such as oocyte maturation, sperm motility, and embryo developmental competence. While most data originate from in vitro bovine studies, in vivo research in sheep offers valuable insights. Importantly, given the potential for EDCs to bioaccumulate in animal tissues, these findings hold significant implications for animal health, particularly regarding reproductive physiology and fertility rates.

PMID:41007955 | PMC:PMC12466432 | DOI:10.3390/ani15182712

Environ Int. 2025 Aug 22:109740. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109740. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study applied in vitro bioassays and high resolution targeted screening in the (drinking) water cycle to investigate chemicals of emerging concern. The presence of activity for 10 bioassay endpoints (endocrine (ant)agonistic and reactive modes of action) was assessed in waste water treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, surface water (SW), process water and drinking water (DW) of 4 DW companies in the Rhine and Meuse catchments. Eight of the ten biological activities were detected in the samples. Most of them were completely removed during the DW production. High resolution targeted screening detected significantly more contaminants with significantly higher peak areas (indicative for concentrations) at locations in the Rhine than in the Meuse. A principal component analysis enabled separate clustering of locations in the Rhine versus locations in the Meuse catchment. Most DW samples clustered far away from the SW they were produced from. This indicates that water treatment technologies applied to the SW affected the water quality of DW to a larger extent than the SW sources themselves. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) showed that agricultural compounds, natural compounds, steroids and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contributed the most to the clustering of samples from the Meuse locations, whereas pharmaceuticals were the main application group contributing to the Rhine cluster. It was found that the clustering in HCA, although very capable of pinpointing patterns in contaminating compounds, did not directly refer to the drivers of the observed bioassay activities, thereby underlining the need for EDA for this purpose. An accompanying article reports the Effect-Directed Analysis (EDA) that was performed consequently to identify the compounds that caused the bioassay activities.

PMID:41015662 | DOI:10.1016/j.envint.2025.109740

Neurotoxicology. 2025 Sep 25;111:103309. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2025.103309. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: The relationship between prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and child neurodevelopment remains inconclusive, and few studies have investigated associations of PFAS exposure with language development. This study drew on data from seven U.S.-based Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) cohorts to investigate associations between prenatal PFAS exposures and language development in early childhood.

METHODS: We quantified concentrations of four PFAS in maternal plasma or serum during pregnancy. Language development was assessed using the communication scale from the Ages & Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ®-3) in children ages 1.5-5 years (n = 1503) and the NIH Toolbox Picture Vocabulary Test (PVT) in children ages 3-5 years (n = 399). Associations between individual PFAS and language outcomes were examined in multivariable linear and logistic regression models. PFAS mixture was examined using quantile g-computation.

RESULTS: Overall and in sex-specific analyses, we did not observe associations between individual PFAS biomarkers and language development. The PFAS mixture showed no significant associations with ASQ®-3 communication z-scores (ψ = -0.04; 95 % CI: -0.86, 0.78) or PVT t-scores (ψ = 0.35; 95 % CI: -1.14, 1.83). Sex-specific results showed a small but statistically significant negative association with ASQ®-3 communication scores in females (ψ = -0.46; 95 % CI: -0.88, -0.05; p = 0.03) and positive, albeit not statistically significant, associations with PVT t-scores in males (ψ = 0.27; 95 % CI: -1.84, 2.38) and females (ψ = 0.55; 95 % CI: -1.81, 2.92).

CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal concentrations of individual PFAS or their mixture were not associated with ASQ®-3 communication domain scores or PVT t-scores.

PMID:41015090 | DOI:10.1016/j.neuro.2025.103309

Chemosphere. 2025 Nov;389:144703. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144703. Epub 2025 Sep 26.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are increasingly recognised as ubiquitous atmospheric contaminants. The atmosphere, in turn, is an important compartment for distributing these compounds throughout the environment, allowing human exposure through inhalation and/or dermal contact. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on PFAS, covering: (i) a compilation of information on emission sources - primary sources (production, manufacturing, use of AFFF, waste handling, marine spraying) and secondary sources (oxidative degradation of neutral PFAS); (ii) proposed classifications of the volatility of these substances based on vapor pressure by the U.S. Environmental Protection ECHA - European Chemicals Agency (2025); (iii) atmospheric processes that govern gas-particle partitioning, long-range transport, and deposition; (iv) an assessment of current and emerging sampling and analytical techniques, including OTM 45/50 methods; and (v) the identification of priority knowledge gaps. Among the main existing gaps, the validation of improved monitoring strategies and inhalation toxicity studies for neutral precursors could significantly contribute to a robust risk assessment and support regulatory efforts within the evolving global agenda for the phase-out of PFAS.

PMID:41014993 | DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144703

Environ Pollut. 2025 Sep 25;386:127177. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127177. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent and toxic contaminants widely detected in drinking water systems. Regulatory responses have varied globally, with a growing need for science-based approaches to assess the health risks posed by PFAS mixtures. However, existing studies have mainly relied on isolated theoretical examples or small datasets, leaving the real-world implications of these approaches poorly understood. This study addresses this gap by applying to two high-quality datasets from large-scale PFAS monitoring campaigns conducted by the USGS four leading PFAS mixtures assessment approaches: (i) the EU approach based on thresholds for total PFAS and the sum of 20 specific PFAS; (ii) Maximum Contaminant Levels established by the US EPA; (iii) the Relative Potency Factor method under evaluation in the EU; and (iv) the Risk Assessment (US EPA RAGS) approach. These datasets cover more than 1700 groundwater and tap water samples, providing a robust basis to investigate the practical differences and consequences of each method. Results reveal significant discrepancies across methods. The EU approach, although applicable to all samples, does not consider toxicological differences among individual compounds, often underestimating health impacts. The Maximum Contaminant Levels approach offers a more health-based evaluation, though it applies to only a subset of compounds. In contrast, the Relative Potency Factor and Risk Assessment (US EPA RAGS) methods provide toxicity-weighted evaluations, offering a more robust and consistent characterization of health risks. Notably, only the Risk Assessment (US EPA RAGS) evaluates carcinogenicity effects in the PFOA and PFOS assessment, though its estimates rely on evolving and debated toxicological assumptions, requiring cautious interpretation. These findings underscore how methodological choices influence PFAS risk evaluation, offering useful insights for future environmental policy and risk assessment practices.

PMID:41015108 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127177

Reprod Toxicol. 2025 Sep 25;138:109074. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.109074. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Congenital structural malformations (CSM) have become a significant public health and social issue, affecting the health status of children and the level of population quality. Emerging research increasingly suggests that environmental pollutants may contribute to the development of CSM. However, current epidemiologic evidence on the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on CSM is limited and restrictive. A nested case-control study examined how maternal exposure to PFAS during pregnancy affects the risk of CSM. Logistic regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to assess the effects of single PFAS and PFAS mixture exposure on CSM. Perfluorodecanoic acid (PDA) showed a strong positive association with CSM in the logistic regression model (Adjusted OR: 4.79, 95 % CI: 1.55 ∼ 18.52). The BKMR analysis indicated an increased risk of CSM as PFAS mixture levels rose above the 55th percentile. Individual PFAS were ranked by posterior inclusion probabilities (PIPs), with PDA (PIP = 1.00), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (PIP = 1.00), potassium 9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonate (9Cl_PF3ONS) (PIP = 0.88), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) (PIP = 0.82) contributing most to the mixture's effect on CSM. No significant interactions were observed between PFAS mixtures when other exposures were held constant at the 50th percentile. In conclusion, we found that prenatal exposure to PDA and PFAS mixtures was significantly linked to a heightened risk of CSM, with PDA, PFOA, 9Cl_PF3ONS, and PFNA being significant contributors to the mixture effect. In addition, our study did not identify any previous interactions of PFAS.

PMID:41015328 | DOI:10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.109074

Environ Geochem Health. 2025 Sep 27;47(11):462. doi: 10.1007/s10653-025-02763-8.

ABSTRACT

Concerns regarding the inhaled risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in atmospheric particulate matter (APM) are continuously increasing. In this study, we collected APM of three sizes (PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10) to investigate the bioavailability of PFAS. An in-vitro simulation method was employed using two simulated lung fluids: modified Gamble's solution (MGS) and artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF). Among the APM samples, PFAS concentrations in PM1.0 and PM2.5 were significantly higher than those in PM10. In addition to long-chain PFAS, short-chain and emerging PFAS also exhibited high concentrations. Regarding the inhaled bioavailability of PFAS in APM, we found that PFAS generally had high inhalation bioavailability fractions (IBAFs) in both MGS and ALF. IBAFs for most PFAS reached equilibrium after 1-day incubation period, with the size of APM and hydrophobicity of PFAS influencing IBAFs in both MGS and ALF. The bioavailability of PFAS in ALF was generally higher than that in MGS. If the bioavailability of PFAS in APM with simulated lung fluids is not considered, the inhaled health risk of PFAS may be overestimated by 21-47% in the interstitial fluid of lung cells and by 17-33% in lung cells.

PMID:41015593 | DOI:10.1007/s10653-025-02763-8

Toxics. 2025 Aug 30;13(9):732. doi: 10.3390/toxics13090732.

ABSTRACT

Poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals that are widely used, prevalent in the environment, associated with several toxic effects, and often have long half-lives. Their persistence and relevant toxicity are the primary causes of environmental and human health concerns, and they are referred to as "forever chemicals" because of their persistence. Environmental accumulation caused by slow natural biodegradation and subsequent long environmental half-lives leads to bioaccumulation and makes PFAS more likely to be chronically toxic with potential transgenerational effects. Ultimately, it is this persistence that causes the greatest concern because PFAS-contaminated sites need costly remediation techniques, or else the contaminated areas will not be available for proper economic development because of social and economic suppression. Non-PFAS, alternative Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF) that are considered environmentally friendly, are being heavily considered or currently used for fire suppression instead of PFAS-based products. The bioaccumulation and toxicity of alternative AFFF are just starting to be studied. The purpose of this review is to discuss the basic environmental and human health effects of PFAS and alternative AFFF that propel regulatory changes, increase clean-up costs, reduce economic development, and drive the development of novel alternatives.

PMID:41012353 | PMC:PMC12473471 | DOI:10.3390/toxics13090732

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2025 Oct 1;304:119092. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.119092. Epub 2025 Sep 25.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental pollutants associated with cardiometabolic diseases, characterized by disruptions in glucose and lipid metabolism. However, comprehensive studies assessing metabolic abnormalities, particularly novel insulin resistance (IR) indices, remain limited. Additionally, caffeine intake is a common lifestyle factor, its potential to modulate PFAS-induced metabolic disturbances remains poorly understood. This cross-sectional study investigated 3468 U.S. adults from NHANES (2007-2018) to assess associations between PFAS and glucose-lipid biomarkers, including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein, homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR), β-cell function (HOMA-β), and triglyceride-glucose indices (TyG, TyG-BMI), while exploring the moderating effect of caffeine intake. Among the seven PFAS analyzed, five (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, and PFUnA) were significantly associated with elevated TC and LDL levels in multivariable survey-weighted regression models. These PFAS compounds were also positively correlated with glucose metabolism indicators, including HOMA-β (β = 7.95, 95 % CI: 1.72, 14.18 for PFNA; β = 7.56, 95 % CI: 1.57, 13.55 for PFOA; β = 7.56, 95 % CI: 2.77, 12.35 for PFOS), the TyG index (β = 0.05, 95 % CI: 0.01, 0.08 for PFNA; β = 0.07, 95 % CI: 0.03, 0.11 for PFOA; β = 0.06, 95 % CI: 0.02, 0.10 for PFOS), and TyG-BMI (β = 1.28, 95 % CI: 0.22, 2.35 for MPAH; β = 1.24, 95 % CI: 0.24, 2.25 for PFNA; β = 2.02, 95 % CI: 1.01, 3.02 for PFOA; β = 1.78, 95 % CI: 0.54, 3.02 for PFOS). Interaction analysis revealed that caffeine intake significantly moderated PFAS associations with LDL, with stronger positive associations observed in the low caffeine intake group. These findings suggest that PFAS exposure may disrupt lipid and glucose metabolism, particularly increased LDL and IR. Caffeine may attenuate some PFAS-related lipid disturbances, underscoring the need for further investigation into its protective role.

PMID:41005075 | DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.119092

J Hazard Mater. 2025 Sep 15;498:139882. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139882. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The hematological impact of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remains poorly characterized, particularly regarding platelet function and its regulatory mechanisms. In this study, 36 legacy and novel PFAS were quantified in serum samples from 2042 participants aged 3-79 years in Zhejiang Province, China, alongside evaluation of four platelet indices. Notably, elderly participants (60-79 years) exhibited the highest cumulative PFAS concentrations (∑₁₄PFAS: 42.62 ng/mL). A broad spectrum of PFAS demonstrated significant negative associations with mean platelet volume (MPV), highlighting MPV as a potential sensitive biomarker for PFAS-induced platelet dysfunction. Consistently, PFAS mixtures were negatively associated with MPV across all age groups, as well as with platelet distribution width (PDW) in adults as estimated using quantile-based g-computation model. To elucidate the mechanistic basis, a conceptual adverse outcome pathway (AOP) was proposed, implicating interactions between PFAS and biomacromolecular targets such as CTNNB1 as molecular initiating events. These disruptions may interfere with megakaryocyte differentiation and downstream platelet activation. Integration of PFAS serum concentrations and molecular docking-derived binding affinities within a toxicological priority index (ToxPi) model enabled the prioritization of PFAS by their platelet-toxic potential, identifying PFOA and PFOS as the most concerning and informing regulatory risk management. Collectively, these findings underscore the need for increased scrutiny of PFAS-related platelet toxicity and support further mechanistic investigations using both in vivo and in vitro studies.

PMID:41005090 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139882

Sci Total Environ. 2025 Sep 25;1002:180531. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180531. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

HFPO-DA (GenX) and Cl-PFAES (F53B) are structurally distinct PFAS that behave differently in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). GenX, with a fully fluorinated ether backbone and high polarity, shows low sorption and persists in the aqueous phase. In contrast, F-53B's sulfonate group and non-fluorinated segments favor sludge partitioning, with potential desorption risks. Mechanistically, the CCl substituent in F53B can act as a microbial dehalogenation hotspot that precedes defluorination, whereas GenX shows limited biotransformation. In mixed matrices, competitive sorption and precursor transformation decrease removal efficiency, with short-chain species most affected. Non-destructive methods, including advanced adsorbents, membranes, and anion-exchange resins, have demonstrated variable removal efficiencies (10-99 %). Destructive approaches such as UV/sulfite photoreduction and electrochemical oxidation show promise for partial degradation (70-99 %), although their practical application is constrained by matrix complexity, material specificity, and risks of secondary pollution. In addition, both compounds generate persistent transformation products, such as trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) from GenX and PFBS-like species from F53B, which raise additional environmental and regulatory concerns. Their molecular structures critically influence transformation behavior, with GenX resisting biodegradation due to its fluorinated ether backbone, and F53B showing greater reactivity owing to aliphatic -CH₂- groups and a chlorine substituent. Field-scale performance data and long-term monitoring remain limited, impeding accurate evaluation of treatment efficacy and environmental transformation. This review proposes a structure-fate-treatment framework and highlights the need for integrated byproduct monitoring, biotransformation research, and machine learning-assisted prediction to inform future remediation and policy efforts.

PMID:41005162 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180531

J Environ Sci (China). 2026 Jan;159:88-96. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2025.06.006. Epub 2025 Jun 6.

ABSTRACT

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), are persistent environmental pollutants with potential toxicological effects on human health. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of PFOS and PFOA on the effectiveness of selected drugs used in the treatment of prostate cancer based on in vitro tests on cell lines. Three cell lines were used in the study: two human prostate cancer cells (DU-145 and PC3) and one human normal prostate cell line (PNT1A). Using dose-response experiments, it was observed that PFAS had differential effects on cancer and normal cells. At low concentrations, PFOA and PFOS stimulated the proliferation of cancer cells, particularly PC3, while higher concentrations led to reduced viability. In normal cells, PFOS exhibited greater cytotoxicity compared to PFOA. Furthermore, PFOS enhanced docetaxel cytotoxicity in PC3 cells but reduced its efficacy in DU-145 cells. Similarly, PFOA diminished cabazitaxel effectiveness in DU-145 cells, suggesting PFAS-drug interactions may depend on the cell type, drug, and PFAS concentration. Results suggest that PFAS may influence cellular processes through receptor-mediated pathways, oxidative stress modulation, and protein binding, altering drug bioavailability and cellular uptake. The study also highlights the non-monotonic dose-response relationships observed in PFAS-treated cells. These findings raise concerns about the potential risks associated with PFAS exposure, particularly in the context of cancer treatment. Future studies should focus on long-term, low-dose PFAS exposure, the use of primary cells, and the molecular mechanisms driving these interactions to better inform therapeutic strategies.

PMID:41005939 | DOI:10.1016/j.jes.2025.06.006

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2025 Oct 1;304:119101. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.119101. Epub 2025 Sep 25.

ABSTRACT

Understanding the mechanisms of chemical bioaccumulation in aquatic invertebrates is fundamental to ecological toxicology, as contaminant retention in key species shapes exposure pathways and trophic transfer within aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we developed a physiologically based kinetic (PBK) model to quantify the bioaccumulation factors (BAF) of 101 organic contaminants in adult white-leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). The model subdivides the organism into hemolymph, digestive tract, gills, muscle, shell, and eggs, and simulates uptake through gill respiration and dietary intake, together with elimination via respiratory exchange, fecal excretion, growth dilution, molting, and spawning. Predictions showed overall good agreement with reported BAF, with 50-80 % of chemicals deviating by less than one order of magnitude. Performance was highest for brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and other hydrophobic compounds (Log K_ow 4-6), whereas substantial biases occurred for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and certain pesticides, likely due to unmodeled metabolic processes and sediment-water interactions. Simulations identified gill and egg tissues as major accumulation sites, reflecting their lipid content and direct environmental exposure. Exposure pathways were chemical-specific: gill uptake dominated for most hydrophobic pollutants (>94 %), while dietary intake was the principal contributor to PFAS accumulation in the digestive system (>90 %). The nonlinear relationship between bioconcentration factor (BCF) and Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient (K_ow) suggested a threshold effect in bioavailability. Overall, this shrimp-based PBK model enhances mechanistic understanding of contaminant dynamics in crustaceans and provides a basis for evaluating chemical risks and exposure heterogeneity in aquatic ecosystems.

PMID:41005070 | DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.119101

Aquat Toxicol. 2025 Sep 21;289:107584. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107584. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), a short-chain PFAS, is a persistent and bioaccumulative pollutant of increasing ecological concern. However, the long-term effects of environmentally relevant PFBA concentrations on fish liver function remain unclear. In this study, male zebrafish were exposed to 1000 ng/L PFBA for 7, 35, and 64 days to assess hepatotoxicity and molecular alterations over time. Histopathological analysis revealed progressive liver damage, including lipid vacuolization and hemorrhage, which intensified with prolonged exposure. Transcriptome profiling identified thousands of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with distinct temporal patterns-early immune activation and metabolic disruption (Day 7), peak inflammatory response (Day 35), and partial attenuation or adaptation (Day 64). GO and KEGG analyses highlighted key pathways, including Toll-like receptor (TLR), Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR) , and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathways. qPCR validation of TLR pathway genes (tlr1, tlr2, tlr3, tlr5, tlr7, tlr8, pik3cd, pik3r2, akt3b, akt1, mapk1, mapk3, mapk11, mapk14, nfκb1, tab2, il-8, tnfα) confirmed the upregulation of these genes, supporting the findings from transcriptome analysis and highlighting the significance of the TLR pathway in the immune response to PFBA exposure. These findings provide valuable insights into the chronic effects of environmentally relevant PFBA exposure on liver function and immune responses in zebrafish, with important implications for understanding the ecological risks of PFBA in aquatic environments.

PMID:41005041 | DOI:10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107584

Environ Res. 2025 Sep 23;286(Pt 2):122936. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.122936. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been associated with lower bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) in children, but prospective studies remain limited. We aimed to investigate associations between prenatal and childhood PFAS exposure and BMC/BMD at age 9 years, following up on our previous findings from age 7 years.

METHODS: We used data from the Odense Child Cohort, which enrolled pregnant women between 2010 and 2012 and followed their children. Five PFAS were measured in maternal first-trimester serum, and eight PFAS in child serum at 18 months and 5 years. Whole-body DXA scans were conducted at age 9 years. We used covariate-adjusted linear regression models and examined PFAS mixture effects using quantile g-computation. All models were stratified by child sex.

RESULTS: In this relatively low-exposed cohort, higher prenatal (n = 845) and childhood (n = 630 and n = 719) PFAS concentrations were associated with lower BMC and BMD Z-scores at age 9 years, although none of the estimates reached statistical significance. Generally, stronger associations were found in boys. Consistent with the single-pollutant models, mixture analyses indicated that maternal exposure to the PFAS mixture was significantly associated with a 4.86 g (-9.6; -0.13) reduction in BMC at age 9 years.

CONCLUSION: Our findings align with previous studies suggesting that bone may be a target tissue for PFAS, with effects that may persist over time. These findings raise public health concerns, as lower bone mass in childhood is associated with increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures in adulthood.

PMID:40998208 | DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2025.122936